Elisha

18The child grew older. One day he went out to his father, who was working with the harvest workers.

And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers.

NoteHarvest is when grain is cut down and gathered. Whole families worked in the fields at that time.

19He said to his father, "My head! My head hurts!" His father told a servant, "Carry him to his mother."

And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother.

20The servant picked him up and brought him to his mother. The boy sat on her lap until noon. Then he died.

And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.

21She carried him up and laid him on the bed in the man of God's room. Then she shut the door and went out.

And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out.

22She called her husband and said, "Please send me a servant and a donkey. I must go to the man of God and come right back."

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.

23He said, "Why go today? It is not a New Moon day or a Sabbath." She said, "It will be all right."

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.

NoteThe Sabbath was the one day each week when people rested and worshiped God. A New Moon day was the start of a new month, another special day. People often visited a prophet on those days, so the husband wonders why she is going now.

24She saddled the donkey and told her servant, "Go fast. Do not slow down unless I tell you to."

Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee.

25So she rode to Mount Carmel, where the man of God was. He saw her far away and said to Gehazi, "Look, there is the woman from Shunem."

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:

NoteMount Carmel is a tall hill near the sea. It was many hours away from her town, even riding fast.

26"Please run and meet her. Ask if she is all right. Ask about her husband and her child." She answered, "Everything is all right."

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.

27When she reached Elisha on the mountain, she took hold of his feet. Gehazi came to push her away. But Elisha said, "Leave her alone. She is hurting deep inside. The LORD has hidden this from me and has not told me why."

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.

NoteHolding on to someone's feet was a way of begging for help. It showed you needed that person very much.

28Then she said, "My lord, did I ask you for a son? Didn't I say, 'Do not fool me'?"

Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me?

29Elisha said to Gehazi, "Tuck your robe into your belt so you can run. Take my walking stick and go. Do not stop to greet anyone. If anyone greets you, do not answer. Lay my stick on the boy's face."

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.

NoteGreetings then were long. People stopped and talked for a while, so Elisha said not to greet anyone. Sending his own walking stick was like sending himself along with Gehazi.

30The boy's mother said, "As surely as the LORD lives and you live, I will not leave you." So Elisha got up and went with her.

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.

Note"As surely as the LORD lives" was the strongest promise a person could make. She meant she truly would not go without him.

31Gehazi ran ahead and laid the stick on the boy's face. But there was no sound and no answer. So he went back to Elisha and said, "The boy has not woken up."

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.

32Elisha came to the house. The boy was lying dead on his bed.

And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed.

33Elisha went in alone with the boy and shut the door. Then he prayed to the LORD.

He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD.

34He got up on the bed and lay on the boy. He put his mouth on the boy's mouth. He put his eyes on the boy's eyes. He put his hands on the boy's hands. As he stretched out over him, the boy's body grew warm.

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.

35Elisha got up and walked back and forth in the room. Then he lay on the boy again. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.

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.

36Elisha called Gehazi and said, "Call the woman from Shunem." Gehazi called her, and she came in. Elisha said, "Pick up your son."

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.

37She came in and fell at his feet. She bowed down to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out.

Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.

NoteBowing all the way to the ground was how people said a big thank you. It showed great respect.

38Elisha went back to Gilgal. There was a famine, and food was hard to find. The sons of the prophets, men who learned from him, were sitting with him. He told his helper, "Put the big pot on. Cook stew for these men."

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.

39One man went out to the field to gather plants. He found a wild vine and picked all the wild gourds he could carry. He cut them up into the pot of stew. No one knew what they were.

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.

NoteGourds are round fruits, a bit like small melons. Some kinds that grow wild will make you very sick.

40They poured out the stew for the men to eat. But when they tasted it, they cried out, "Man of God, there is death in the pot!" They could not eat it.

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.

41Elisha said, "Bring me some flour." He threw it into the pot. Then he said, "Pour it out for the people to eat." Now nothing in the pot could hurt them.

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.

NoteFlour is grain ground up into powder. It is what bread is made from.

42A man came from a town called Baal-shalishah. He brought the man of God twenty loaves of barley bread. The bread was made from the first grain of the harvest. He also brought fresh grain still in its husks. Elisha said, "Give it to the people to eat."

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.

NoteBarley is a grain, like wheat but cheaper. The very first grain gathered each year was given to God as a gift. Husks are the dry covers around fresh grain.

43His helper said, "How can this feed a hundred men?" Elisha said again, "Give it to the people to eat. The LORD says they will eat and still have food left over."

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.

44So the helper set the food in front of them. They ate, and there was food left over, just as the LORD had said.

So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the LORD.

1Naaman led the army of the king of Syria. His king thought very highly of him. The LORD had used Naaman to win victories for Syria. He was brave and strong. But he had a skin disease called leprosy.

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.

NoteSyria was a country next to Israel, to the north. The two lands often fought each other. Leprosy was a sickness that made sores on the skin. People with it had to stay away from everyone else. LORD in big letters is God's own special name.

2Syrian raiders had gone into Israel and taken a young girl away. Now she worked for Naaman's wife.

And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman’s wife.

NoteRaiders were soldiers who rode into another land. They took away animals, food, and even people. The girl was made a servant far from home.

3The girl said to Naaman's wife, "I wish my master could see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal my master's skin disease."

And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.

NoteSamaria was the biggest city in Israel. The king of Israel lived there. A prophet was someone who told people what God said.

4Naaman went to his king. He told him what the girl from Israel had said.

And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.

5The king of Syria said, "Go ahead. I will send a letter to the king of Israel." So Naaman left. He took ten talents of silver, six thousand pieces of gold, and ten sets of clothes.

And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.

NoteA talent was a big lump of silver, very heavy. One weighed about as much as a small child. Ten talents was a huge amount of money. Fine clothes were a rich gift back then too.

6Naaman brought the letter to the king of Israel. It said, "I am sending my servant Naaman to you. Please heal his skin disease."

And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy.

7The king of Israel read the letter and tore his own clothes. He said, "Am I God? Can I kill and give life? This man asks me to heal leprosy. He is only looking for a fight with me."

And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.

NoteLong ago people tore their own clothes when very upset. It showed sadness or fear without saying a word.

8Elisha was a man of God. He heard that the king had torn his clothes. He sent the king a message. "Why did you tear your clothes? Send the man to me. Then he will know there is a prophet in Israel."

And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.

Note"Man of God" was another way to say prophet. It meant God spoke through him.

9So Naaman came with his horses and his chariot. He stopped at the door of Elisha's house.

So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.

NoteA chariot was a small cart pulled by horses. Important people rode in them.

10Elisha did not come out. He sent a messenger to say, "Go wash in the Jordan River seven times. Your skin will be well again. You will be clean."

And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.

NoteThe Jordan is the main river in Israel. Its water is brown and muddy. Seven was a special number that meant all the way, complete. Being "clean" meant well again, and allowed back with other people.

11Naaman got angry and walked away. He said, "I thought Elisha would come out to me. I thought he would pray to the LORD his God. I thought he would wave his hand over my skin and heal it."

But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.

12"Damascus has two rivers, Abana and Pharpar. Are they not better than any water in Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and left in a rage.

Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.

NoteDamascus was the big city in Syria where Naaman lived. Its rivers ran clear and cold from the mountains.

13Naaman's servants came close and spoke to him. "Father, if the prophet had asked you to do something hard, you would have done it. He only said, 'Wash and be clean.' That is even easier."

And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?

NoteServants sometimes called a kind leader "father." It was a warm and respectful name, not his real one.

14So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times. He did just what the man of God said. His skin became soft like a little child's skin. He was clean.

Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

15Naaman went back to Elisha with all his men. He stood in front of him and said, "Now I know there is no God in all the earth but in Israel. Please take a gift from me."

And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.

16Elisha said, "As surely as the LORD lives, the one I serve, I will take nothing." Naaman kept asking him. But Elisha still said no.

But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused.

17Naaman said, "Then please let me take home some soil from Israel. Give me as much as two mules can carry. From now on I will bring offerings to the LORD only, and to no other god."

And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules’ burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD.

NotePeople then thought a god belonged to one land. Naaman wanted Israel's dirt so he could pray on it. An offering was a gift of animals or grain given to God.

18"But please ask the LORD to forgive me for one thing. My master goes into the temple of his god Rimmon to worship. He leans on my arm, and I bow down there with him. Please let the LORD forgive me for that."

In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing.

NoteRimmon was a god the people of Syria prayed to. A temple was the building where they did it. The king held Naaman's arm to lean on while he walked.

19Elisha said, "Go in peace." So Naaman started for home and went a short way.

And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.

Note"Go in peace" was a kind way to say goodbye. It meant everything between them was fine.

20Gehazi was the servant of Elisha, the man of God. He thought, "My master let this Syrian go without taking a thing. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something."

But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.

21So Gehazi ran after Naaman. Naaman saw him running and climbed down from his chariot to meet him. He asked, "Is everything all right?"

So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?

22Gehazi said, "Everything is fine. My master sent me. Two young men just came to him from the hills of Ephraim. They are training to be prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothes."

And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.

Note"Sons of the prophets" were young men learning from a prophet. They lived together and studied with him. Ephraim was a hilly part of Israel.

23Naaman said, "Please take two talents." He kept asking until Gehazi agreed. He tied the silver in two bags with two sets of clothes. Two of his servants carried them ahead of Gehazi.

And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.

NoteTwo talents of silver was very heavy. That is why two servants had to carry the bags.

24When Gehazi reached the hill, he took the bags from the servants. He put them away inside the house. Then he sent the men away, and they left.

And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.

25Gehazi went in and stood before his master. Elisha asked, "Where have you been, Gehazi?" He said, "Your servant did not go anywhere."

But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.

26Elisha said, "My heart went with you. I saw the man climb down from his chariot to meet you. This is no time to take money and clothes. It is no time to take olive trees, vineyards, sheep, cattle, or servants."

And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?

NoteOlive trees and vineyards were how people got rich. Owning them meant food and money for years.

27"So Naaman's skin disease will stick to you and to your children after you." Gehazi walked out from Elisha with leprosy. His skin was white as snow.

The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.

Note"Your children after you" means his family for a long time. Skin turning white as snow was a sign of the disease.

1The men who studied with Elisha came to him. They were prophets, men who told people what God said. They said, "The place where we meet with you is too small."

And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us.

NoteThe King James calls them "the sons of the prophets." They were not his sons. They were young men learning from Elisha.

2"Please let us go to the Jordan River. Each of us can cut a log there. Then we can build a place to live." Elisha said, "Go."

Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye.

NoteThe Jordan was the main river in that land. Good trees grew along its banks.

3One of them said, "Please come with us, your servants." Elisha answered, "I will come."

And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go.

4So Elisha went with them. They came to the Jordan River and began cutting down trees.

So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.

5One man was cutting a tree. The iron axe head slipped off and fell in the water. He cried out, "Oh no, master! That axe was borrowed!"

But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.

NoteAxe heads were made of iron, which cost a lot then. The man had borrowed the axe. Now he could not give it back.

6Elisha, the man of God, asked, "Where did it fall?" The man showed him the spot. Elisha cut a stick and threw it in. The iron axe head floated up.

And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim.

Note"Man of God" was another way of saying prophet.

7Elisha said, "Lift it out." The man reached out his hand and took it.

Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.

8The king of Syria was at war with Israel. He talked it over with his officers. He said, "I will set up my camp in this place."

Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.

NoteSyria was a country just north of Israel. The two lands fought many wars.

9Elisha, the man of God, sent word to the king of Israel. He said, "Do not go near that place. The Syrian army is coming down there."

And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.

10So the king of Israel sent word to the place Elisha had named. He kept watch there. Elisha warned him this way again and again, and the king stayed safe.

And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.

11This made the king of Syria very upset. He called his officers together. He asked, "Which one of you is helping the king of Israel?"

Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?

12One officer said, "None of us, my lord the king. Elisha is a prophet in Israel. He tells the king of Israel even what you say in your bedroom."

And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.

13The king said, "Go find out where he is. Then I can send men to catch him." Someone told him, "Elisha is in Dothan."

And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.

NoteDothan was a small town in Israel, north of the city of Samaria.

14So the king sent horses, chariots, and a large army there. They came at night and surrounded the city.

Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.

NoteA chariot was a small cart pulled by horses. Soldiers rode in chariots to fight.

15Early in the morning, Elisha's servant got up and went outside. He saw an army with horses and chariots all around the city. He said, "Oh no, my master! What are we going to do?"

And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

16Elisha answered, "Do not be afraid. There are more on our side than on theirs."

And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

17Elisha prayed, "LORD, please open his eyes so he can see." The LORD opened the young man's eyes. He saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

18The Syrians came down toward Elisha. He prayed, "LORD, please make these men blind." The LORD made them blind, just as Elisha had asked.

And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

19Elisha said to them, "This is not the road. This is not the city. Follow me. I will take you to the man you want." He led them to Samaria.

And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.

NoteSamaria was the largest city in Israel. The king of Israel lived there.

20When they were inside Samaria, Elisha prayed, "LORD, open their eyes so they can see." The LORD opened their eyes. They looked around and saw they were inside Samaria.

And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.

21The king of Israel saw them. He said to Elisha, "My father, should I kill them? Should I kill them?"

And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?

NoteCalling an older man "my father" was a way of showing respect. Elisha was not really his father.

22Elisha said, "Do not kill them. You would not kill men you caught with your own sword and bow. Set food and water in front of them. Let them eat and drink, then go home to their king."

And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.

23So the king made a big meal for them. They ate and drank, and he sent them away. They went back to their king. After that, Syrian raiders stopped coming into Israel.

And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.

NoteRaiders were small groups of soldiers. They slipped over the border to steal and hurt people.

24Some time later, Ben-hadad, king of Syria, gathered his whole army. He marched up and surrounded the city of Samaria.

And it came to pass after this, that Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria.

NoteAn army would circle a city and simply wait. No food could come in. This is called a siege.

25Food ran out in Samaria, and the people were starving. The army stayed around the city so long that a donkey's head cost eighty pieces of silver. A small cup of dove droppings cost five pieces of silver.

And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass’s head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove’s dung for five pieces of silver.

NoteA donkey's head was the poorest scrap of meat there was. Eighty pieces of silver was many months of pay. People were hungry enough to pay it. The dove droppings were most likely burned to make cooking fires.

26The king of Israel was walking along the top of the city wall. A woman called out to him, "Help me, my lord the king!"

And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king.

NoteCity walls were thick and wide on top. People could walk along them like a path.

27He said, "If the LORD does not help you, how can I help you? I have no grain and no wine left to give."

And he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress?

NoteThe King James says "barnfloor" and "winepress." Grain was beaten out on a floor. Grapes were squeezed in a press. The king means both are empty.

28The king asked her, "What is wrong?" She said, "This woman told me, 'Give me your son. We will eat him today. Tomorrow we will eat my son.'"

And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow.

29"So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I said, 'Give me your son so we can eat him.' But she had hidden her son."

So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son.

30When the king heard her words, he tore his clothes in sorrow. As he walked on the wall, the people saw rough cloth under his clothes. He wore it against his skin to show his grief.

And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh.

NotePeople tore their clothes when something terrible happened. It showed everyone how sad they were. The rough cloth was called sackcloth. Wearing it against the skin also showed deep sorrow.

31Then the king said, "May God punish me, and worse, if Elisha son of Shaphat still has his head today."

Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.

NoteThis was a strong promise, like an oath. The king was swearing to kill Elisha that same day.

32Elisha was sitting in his house with the town leaders. The king sent a man ahead to him. Before the man arrived, Elisha spoke to the leaders. He said, "This son of a murderer has sent someone to cut off my head. When the man comes, shut the door and hold it shut. His master is coming right behind him."

But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and the king sent a man from before him: but ere the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away mine head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door: is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him?

NoteThe town leaders, called elders, were older men. They helped make decisions for the town.

33While Elisha was still talking, the messenger came down to him. The king said, "This trouble comes from the LORD. Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?"

And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the LORD; what should I wait for the LORD any longer?