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2 Kings 5-6
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 5
1 Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man in the view of his master, and eminent, because by him the LORD had given victory to Aram. The man was also a valiant warrior, but afflicted with leprosy. 2 Now the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken captive a little girl from the land of Israel; and she waited on Naaman’s wife. 3 And she said to her mistress, 'If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his leprosy.' 4 And Naaman went in and told his master, saying, 'The girl who is from the land of Israel spoke such and such.' 5 Then the king of Aram said, 'Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.' So he departed and took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothes.
6
And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which said, 'And now as this letter comes to you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, so that you may cure him of his leprosy.'
7
But when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, 'Am I God, to kill and to keep alive, that this man is sending word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? But consider now, and see how he is seeking a quarrel against me.'
8
Now it happened, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent word to the king, saying, 'Why did you tear your clothes? Just have him come to me, and he shall learn that there is a prophet in Israel.'
9
So Naaman came with his horses and his chariots, and stood at the doorway of Elisha’s house.
10
And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, 'Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean.'
11
But Naaman was furious and went away, and he said, 'Behold, I thought, ‘He will certainly come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the site and cure the leprosy.’
12
Are Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, not better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?' So he turned and went away in a rage.
13
Then his servants approached and spoke to him, saying, 'My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?'
14
So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, in accordance with the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
15
Then he returned to the man of God with 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, except in Israel; so please accept a gift from your servant now.'
16
But he said, 'As surely as the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will accept nothing.' And he urged him to accept it, but he refused.
17
Then Naaman said, 'If not, please let your servant be given two mules’ load of earth; for your servant will no longer offer a burnt offering nor a sacrifice to other gods, but to the LORD.
18
Regarding this matter may the LORD forgive your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand and I bow down in the house of Rimmon, when I bow down in the house of Rimmon, may the LORD please forgive your servant in this matter.'
19
He said to him, 'Go in peace.' So he went some distance from him.
20
But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, thought, 'Behold, my master has spared this Naaman the Aramean, by not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him and take something from him.'
21
So Gehazi pursued Naaman. When Naaman saw someone running after him, he came down from the chariot to meet him and said, 'Is everything well?'
22
And he said, 'Everything is well. My master has sent me, saying, ‘Behold, just now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothes.’?'
23
Naaman said, 'Be sure to take two talents.' And he urged him, and tied up two talents of silver in two bags with two changes of clothes, and gave them to two of his servants; and they carried them before him.
24
When he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and deposited them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed.
25
But he went in and stood before his master. And Elisha said to him, 'Where have you been, Gehazi?' And he said, 'Your servant went nowhere.'
26
Then he said to him, 'Did my heart not go with you, when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to accept money and to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, sheep, oxen, and male and female slaves?
27
Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.' So he went out from his presence afflicted with leprosy, as white as snow.
Chapter 6
1 Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, 'Behold now, the place before you where we are living is too cramped for us. 2 Please let us go to the Jordan, and let us each take from there a beam, and let us construct a place there for ourselves, to live there.' So he said, 'Go.' 3 Then one of them said, 'Please agree and go with your servants.' And he said, 'I will go.' 4 So he went with them; and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. 5 But it happened that as one of them was cutting down a beam, the axe head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, 'Oh, my master! It was borrowed!' 6 Then the man of God said, 'Where did it fall?' And when he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there, and made the iron float. 7 Then he said, 'Pick it up for yourself.' So he reached out his hand and took it.
8
Now the king of Aram was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying, 'In such and such a place shall be my camp.'
9
But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, saying, 'Be careful that you do not pass this place, because the Arameans are coming down there.'
10
And the king of Israel sent scouts to the place about which the man of God had told him; so he warned him, so that he was on his guard there, more than once or twice.
11
Now the heart of the king of Aram was enraged over this matter; and he called his servants and said to them, 'Will you not tell me which of us is for the king of Israel?'
12
One of his servants said, 'No, my lord, the king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.'
13
So he said, 'Go and see where he is, so that I may send men and take him.' And it was told to him, saying, 'Behold, he is in Dothan.'
14
So he sent horses and chariots and a substantial army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city.
15
Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, 'This is hopeless, my master! What are we to do?'
16
And he said, 'Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are greater than those who are with them.'
17
Then Elisha prayed and said, 'LORD, please, open his eyes so that he may see.' And the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
18
And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, 'Please strike this people with blindness.' So He struck them with blindness in accordance with the word of Elisha.
19
Then Elisha said to them, 'This is not the way, nor is this the city; follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.' And he brought them to Samaria.
20
When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, 'LORD, open the eyes of these men, so that they may see.' So the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
21
Then the king of Israel when he saw them, said to Elisha, 'My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?'
22
But he answered, 'You shall not kill them. Would you kill those whom you have taken captive with your sword and your bow? Set bread and water before them, so that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.'
23
So he provided a large feast for them; and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the marauding bands of Arameans did not come again into the land of Israel.
24
Now it came about after this, that Ben-hadad the king of Aram gathered all his army, and went up and besieged Samaria.
25
So there was a severe famine in Samaria; and behold, they kept besieging it until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a fourth of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver.
26
And as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, saying, 'Help, my lord the king!'
27
But he said, 'If the LORD does not help you, from where am I to help you? From the threshing floor, or from the wine press?'
28
Then the king said to her, 'What is on your mind?' And she said, 'This woman said to me, ‘Give your son so that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’
29
So we cooked my son and ate him; and I said to her on the next day, ‘Give your son, so that we may eat him’; but she has hidden her son.'
30
When the king heard the woman’s words, he tore his clothes—and he was passing by on the wall—and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth underneath on his body.
31
Then he said, 'May God do so to me and more so, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on him today.'
32
Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. And the king sent a man from his presence; but before the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, 'Do you see how this son of a murderer has sent a man to cut off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold the door shut against him. Is the sound of his master’s feet not behind him?'
33
While he was still talking with them, behold, the messenger came down to him and he said, 'Behold, this evil is from the LORD; why should I wait for the LORD any longer?'
King James Version
Chapter 5
1 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. 2 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. 3 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. 4 And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel. 5 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. 6 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. 7 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. 8 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.
9
So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.
10
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.
11
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
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.
13
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?
14
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.
15
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.
16
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.
17
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.
18
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, 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.
19
And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.
20
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.
21
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?
22
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.
23
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.
24
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.
25
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.
26
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?
27
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.
Chapter 6
1 And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us. 2 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. 3 And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go. 4 So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. 5 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. 6 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. 7 Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.
8
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.
9
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.
10
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.
11
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?
12
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.
13
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.
14
Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
15
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?
16
And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
17
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.
18
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.
19
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.
20
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.
21
And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?
22
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.
23
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.
24
And it came to pass after this, that Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria.
25
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.
26
And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king.
27
And he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress?
28
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 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.
30
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.
31
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.
32
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?
33
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?
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 5
1 Naaman, commander of the army for the king of Aram, was a man important to his master and highly regarded because through him, the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man was a valiant warrior, but he had a skin disease.
2
Aram had gone on raids and brought back from the land of Israel a young girl who served Naaman's wife.
3
She said to her mistress, "If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his skin disease."
4
So Naaman went and told his master what the girl from the land of Israel had said.
5
Therefore, the king of Aram said, "Go, and I will send a letter with you to the king of Israel."So he went and took with him 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing.
6
He brought the letter to the king of Israel, and it read:When this letter comes to you, note that I have sent you my servant Naaman for you to cure him of his skin disease.
7
When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and asked, "Am I God, killing and giving life, that this man expects me to cure a man of his skin disease? Recognize that he is only picking a fight with me."
8
When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king: "Why have you torn your clothes? Have him come to me, and he will know there is a prophet in Israel."
9
So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house.
10
Then Elisha sent him a messenger, who said, "Go wash seven times in the Jordan and your skin will be restored and you will be clean."
11
But Naaman got angry and left, saying, "I was telling myself: He will surely come out, stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the skin disease.
12
Aren't Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be clean? " So he turned and left in a rage.
13
But his servants approached and said to him, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more should you do it when he only tells you, 'Wash and be clean'? "
14
So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the command of the man of God. Then his skin was restored and became like the skin of a small boy, and he was clean.
15
Then Naaman and his whole company went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, "I know there's no God in the whole world except in Israel. Therefore, please accept a gift from your servant."
16
But Elisha said, "As the Lord lives, in whose presence I stand, I will not accept it." Naaman urged him to accept it, but he refused.
17
Naaman responded, "If not, please let your servant be given as much soil as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will no longer offer a burnt offering or a sacrifice to any other god but the Lord.
18
However, in a particular matter may the Lord pardon your servant: When my master, the king of Aram, goes into the temple of Rimmon to bow in worship while he is leaning on my arm, and I have to bow in the temple of Rimmon--when I bow in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord pardon your servant in this matter."
19
So he said to him, "Go in peace." After Naaman had traveled a short distance from Elisha,
20
Gehazi, the attendant of Elisha the man of God, thought, "My master has let this Aramean Naaman off lightly by not accepting from him what he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him."
21
So Gehazi pursued Naaman. When Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and asked, "Is everything all right? "
22
Gehazi said, "It's all right. My master has sent me to say, 'I have just now discovered that two young men from the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them seventy-five pounds of silver and two sets of clothing.' "
23
But Naaman insisted, "Please, accept one hundred fifty pounds." He urged Gehazi and then packed one hundred fifty pounds of silver in two bags with two sets of clothing. Naaman gave them to two of his attendants who carried them ahead of Gehazi.
24
When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the gifts from them and deposited them in the house. Then he dismissed the men, and they left.
25
Gehazi came and stood by his master. "Where did you go, Gehazi? " Elisha asked him.He replied, "Your servant didn't go anywhere."
26
"And my heart didn't go when the man got down from his chariot to meet you," Elisha said. "Is this a time to accept silver and clothing, olive orchards and vineyards, flocks and herds, and male and female slaves?
27
Therefore, Naaman's skin disease will cling to you and your descendants forever." So Gehazi went out from his presence diseased, resembling snow.
Chapter 6
1 The sons of the prophets said to Elisha, "Please notice that the place where we live under your supervision is too small for us.
2
Please let us go to the Jordan where we can each get a log and can build ourselves a place to live there.""Go," he said.
3
Then one said, "Please come with your servants.""I'll come," he answered.
4
So he went with them, and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees.
5
As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water, and he cried out, "Oh, my master, it was borrowed! "
6
Then the man of God asked, "Where did it fall? "When he showed him the place, the man of God cut a piece of wood, threw it there, and made the iron float.
7
Then he said, "Pick it up." So he reached out and took it.
8
When the king of Aram was waging war against Israel, he conferred with his servants, "My camp will be at such and such a place."
9
But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel: "Be careful passing by this place, for the Arameans are going down there."
10
Consequently, the king of Israel sent word to the place the man of God had told him about. The man of God repeatedly warned the king, so the king would be on his guard.
11
The king of Aram was enraged because of this matter, and he called his servants and demanded of them, "Tell me, which one of us is for the king of Israel? "
12
One of his servants said, "No one, my lord the king. Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in your bedroom."
13
So the king said, "Go and see where he is, so I can send men to capture him."When he was told, "Elisha is in Dothan,"
14
he sent horses, chariots, and a massive army there. They went by night and surrounded the city.
15
When the servant of the man of God got up early and went out, he discovered an army with horses and chariots surrounding the city. So he asked Elisha, "Oh, my master, what are we to do? "
16
Elisha said, "Don't be afraid, for those who are with us outnumber those who are with them."
17
Then Elisha prayed, "Lord, please open his eyes and let him see." So the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he saw that the mountain was covered with horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
18
When the Arameans came against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, "Please strike this nation with blindness." So he struck them with blindness, according to Elisha's word.
19
Then Elisha said to them, "This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will take you to the man you're looking for." And he led them to Samaria.
20
When they entered Samaria, Elisha said, "Lord, open these men's eyes and let them see." So the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw that they were in the middle of Samaria.
21
When the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, "Should I kill them, should I kill them, my father? "
22
Elisha replied, "Don't kill them. Do you kill those you have captured with your sword or your bow? Set food and water in front of them so they can eat and drink and go to their master."
23
So he prepared a big feast for them. When they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. The Aramean raiders did not come into Israel's land again.
24
Some time later, King Ben-hadad of Aram brought all his military units together and marched up and laid siege to Samaria.
25
So there was a severe famine in Samaria, and they continued the siege against it until a donkey's head sold for thirty-four ounces of silver, and a cup of dove's dung sold for two ounces of silver.
26
As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, "My lord the king, help! "
27
He answered, "If the Lord doesn't help you, where can I get help for you? From the threshing floor or the winepress? "
28
Then the king asked her, "What's the matter? "She said, "This woman said to me, 'Give up your son, and we will eat him today. Then we will eat my son tomorrow.'
29
So we boiled my son and ate him, and I said to her the next day, 'Give up your son, and we will eat him,' but she has hidden her son."
30
When the king heard the woman's words, he tore his clothes. Then, as he was passing by on the wall, the people saw that there was sackcloth under his clothes next to his skin.
31
He announced, "May God punish me and do so severely if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders today."
32
Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. The king sent a man ahead of him, but before the messenger got to him, Elisha said to the elders, "Do you see how this murderer has sent someone to remove my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door to keep him out. Isn't the sound of his master's feet behind him? "
33
While Elisha was still speaking with them, the messenger came down to him. Then he said, "This disaster is from the Lord. Why should I wait for the Lord any longer? "
New Living Translation
Chapter 5
1 The king of Aram had great admiration for Naaman, the commander of his army, because through him the LORD had given Aram great victories. But though Naaman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy.
2
At this time Aramean raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman's wife as a maid.
3
One day the girl said to her mistress, 'I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.'
4
So Naaman told the king what the young girl from Israel had said.
5
'Go and visit the prophet,' the king of Aram told him. 'I will send a letter of introduction for you to take to the king of Israel.' So Naaman started out, carrying as gifts 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing.
6
The letter to the king of Israel said: 'With this letter I present my servant Naaman. I want you to heal him of his leprosy.'
7
When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes in dismay and said, 'This man sends me a leper to heal! Am I God, that I can give life and take it away? I can see that he's just trying to pick a fight with me.'
8
But when Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes in dismay, he sent this message to him: 'Why are you so upset? Send Naaman to me, and he will learn that there is a true prophet here in Israel.'
9
So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and waited at the door of Elisha's house.
10
But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: 'Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.'
11
But Naaman became angry and stalked away. 'I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!' he said. 'I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the LORD his God and heal me!
12
Aren't the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn't I wash in them and be healed?' So Naaman turned and went away in a rage.
13
But his officers tried to reason with him and said, 'Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn't you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, 'Go and wash and be cured!''
14
So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child's, and he was healed!
15
Then Naaman and his entire party went back to find the man of God. They stood before him, and Naaman said, 'Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.'
16
But Elisha replied, 'As surely as the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will not accept any gifts.' And though Naaman urged him to take the gift, Elisha refused.
17
Then Naaman said, 'All right, but please allow me to load two of my mules with earth from this place, and I will take it back home with me. From now on I will never again offer burnt offerings or sacrifices to any other god except the LORD.
18
However, may the LORD pardon me in this one thing: When my master the king goes into the temple of the god Rimmon to worship there and leans on my arm, may the LORD pardon me when I bow, too.'
19
'Go in peace,' Elisha said. So Naaman started home again.
20
But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, the man of God, said to himself, 'My master should not have let this Aramean get away without accepting any of his gifts. As surely as the LORD lives, I will chase after him and get something from him.'
21
So Gehazi set off after Naaman. When Naaman saw Gehazi running after him, he climbed down from his chariot and went to meet him. 'Is everything all right?' Naaman asked.
22
'Yes,' Gehazi said, 'but my master has sent me to tell you that two young prophets from the hill country of Ephraim have just arrived. He would like 75 pounds of silver and two sets of clothing to give to them.'
23
'By all means, take twice as much silver,' Naaman insisted. He gave him two sets of clothing, tied up the money in two bags, and sent two of his servants to carry the gifts for Gehazi.
24
But when they arrived at the citadel, Gehazi took the gifts from the servants and sent the men back. Then he went and hid the gifts inside the house.
25
When he went in to his master, Elisha asked him, 'Where have you been, Gehazi?' 'I haven't been anywhere,' he replied.
26
But Elisha asked him, 'Don't you realize that I was there in spirit when Naaman stepped down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to receive money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female servants?
27
Because you have done this, you and your descendants will suffer from Naaman's leprosy forever.' When Gehazi left the room, he was covered with leprosy; his skin was white as snow.
Chapter 6
1 One day the group of prophets came to Elisha and told him, 'As you can see, this place where we meet with you is too small.
2
Let's go down to the Jordan River, where there are plenty of logs. There we can build a new place for us to meet.' 'All right,' he told them, 'go ahead.'
3
'Please come with us,' someone suggested. 'I will,' he said.
4
So he went with them. When they arrived at the Jordan, they began cutting down trees.
5
But as one of them was cutting a tree, his ax head fell into the river. 'Oh, sir!' he cried. 'It was a borrowed ax!'
6
'Where did it fall?' the man of God asked. When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the water at that spot. Then the ax head floated to the surface.
7
'Grab it,' Elisha said. And the man reached out and grabbed it.
8
When the king of Aram was at war with Israel, he would confer with his officers and say, 'We will mobilize our forces at such and such a place.'
9
But immediately Elisha, the man of God, would warn the king of Israel, 'Do not go near that place, for the Arameans are planning to mobilize their troops there.'
10
So the king of Israel would send word to the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he would be on the alert there.
11
The king of Aram became very upset over this. He called his officers together and demanded, 'Which of you is the traitor? Who has been informing the king of Israel of my plans?'
12
'It's not us, my lord the king,' one of the officers replied. 'Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in the privacy of your bedroom!'
13
'Go and find out where he is,' the king commanded, 'so I can send troops to seize him.' And the report came back: 'Elisha is at Dothan.'
14
So one night the king of Aram sent a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city.
15
When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. 'Oh, sir, what will we do now?' the young man cried to Elisha.
16
'Don't be afraid!' Elisha told him. 'For there are more on our side than on theirs!'
17
Then Elisha prayed, 'O LORD, open his eyes and let him see!' The LORD opened the young man's eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.
18
As the Aramean army advanced toward him, Elisha prayed, 'O LORD, please make them blind.' So the LORD struck them with blindness as Elisha had asked.
19
Then Elisha went out and told them, 'You have come the wrong way! This isn't the right city! Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are looking for.' And he led them to the city of Samaria.
20
As soon as they had entered Samaria, Elisha prayed, 'O LORD, now open their eyes and let them see.' So the LORD opened their eyes, and they discovered that they were in the middle of Samaria.
21
When the king of Israel saw them, he shouted to Elisha, 'My father, should I kill them? Should I kill them?'
22
'Of course not!' Elisha replied. 'Do we kill prisoners of war? Give them food and drink and send them home again to their master.'
23
So the king made a great feast for them and then sent them home to their master. After that, the Aramean raiders stayed away from the land of Israel.
24
Some time later, however, King Ben-hadad of Aram mustered his entire army and besieged Samaria.
25
As a result, there was a great famine in the city. The siege lasted so long that a donkey's head sold for eighty pieces of silver, and a cup of dove's dung sold for five pieces of silver.
26
One day as the king of Israel was walking along the wall of the city, a woman called to him, 'Please help me, my lord the king!'
27
He answered, 'If the LORD doesn't help you, what can I do? I have neither food from the threshing floor nor wine from the press to give you.'
28
But then the king asked, 'What is the matter?' She replied, 'This woman said to me: 'Come on, let's eat your son today, then we will eat my son tomorrow.'
29
So we cooked my son and ate him. Then the next day I said to her, 'Kill your son so we can eat him,' but she has hidden her son.'
30
When the king heard this, he tore his clothes in despair. And as the king walked along the wall, the people could see that he was wearing burlap under his robe next to his skin.
31
'May God strike me and even kill me if I don't separate Elisha's head from his shoulders this very day,' the king vowed.
32
Elisha was sitting in his house with the elders of Israel when the king sent a messenger to summon him. But before the messenger arrived, Elisha said to the elders, 'A murderer has sent a man to cut off my head. When he arrives, shut the door and keep him out. We will soon hear his master's steps following him.'
33
While Elisha was still saying this, the messenger arrived. And the king said, 'All this misery is from the LORD! Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?'
English Standard Version
Chapter 5
1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 4 So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.” 5 And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing.
6
And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.”
7
And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.”
8
But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.”
9
So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.
10
And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.”
11
But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.
12
Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.
13
But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”
14
So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
15
Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant.”
16
But he said, “As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused.
17
Then Naaman said, “If not, please let there be given to your servant two mule loads of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the LORD.
18
In this matter may the LORD pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon your servant in this matter.”
19
He said to him, “Go in peace.” But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance,
20
Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”
21
So Gehazi followed Naaman. And when Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said, “Is all well?”
22
And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me to say, ‘There have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.’”
23
And Naaman said, “Be pleased to accept two talents.” And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi.
24
And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and put them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed.
25
He went in and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant went nowhere.”
26
But he said to him, “Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants?
27
Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” So he went out from his presence a leper, like snow.
Chapter 6
1 Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See, the place where we dwell under your charge is too small for us. 2 Let us go to the Jordan and each of us get there a log, and let us make a place for us to dwell there.” And he answered, “Go.” 3 Then one of them said, “Be pleased to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.” 4 So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. 5 But as one was felling a log, his axe head fell into the water, and he cried out, “Alas, my master! It was borrowed.” 6 Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there and made the iron float. 7 And he said, “Take it up.” So he reached out his hand and took it.
8
Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.”
9
But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.”
10
And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice.
11
And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?”
12
And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.”
13
And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.”
14
So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.
15
When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”
16
He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
17
Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
18
And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha.
19
And Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he led them to Samaria.
20
As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the LORD opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
21
As soon as the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike them down?”
22
He answered, “You shall not strike them down. Would you strike down those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.”
23
So he prepared for them a great feast, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel.
24
Afterward Ben-hadad king of Syria mustered his entire army and went up and besieged Samaria.
25
And there was a great famine in Samaria, as they besieged it, until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver.
26
Now as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, saying, “Help, my lord, O king!”
27
And he said, “If the LORD will not help you, how shall I help you? From the threshing floor, or from the winepress?”
28
And the king asked her, “What is your trouble?” She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’
29
So we boiled my son and ate him. And on the next day I said to her, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him.’ But she has hidden her son.”
30
When the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes—now he was passing by on the wall—and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth beneath on his body—
31
and he said, “May God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders today.”
32
Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. Now the king had dispatched a man from his presence, but before the messenger arrived Elisha said to the elders, “Do you see how this murderer has sent to take off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold the door fast against him. Is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him?”
33
And while he was still speaking with them, the messenger came down to him and said, “This trouble is from the LORD! Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?”
New International Version
Chapter 5
1 Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.
2
Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman's wife.
3
She said to her mistress, 'If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.'
4
Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said.
5
By all means, go,' the king of Aram replied. 'I will send a letter to the king of Israel.' So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing.
6
The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: 'With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.'
7
As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, 'Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!'
8
When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: 'Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.'
9
So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house.
10
Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, 'Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.'
11
But Naaman went away angry and said, 'I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy.
12
Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?' So he turned and went off in a rage.
13
Naaman's servants went to him and said, 'My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, 'Wash and be cleansed'!'
14
So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.
15
Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, 'Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.'
16
The prophet answered, 'As surely as the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.' And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.
17
If you will not,' said Naaman, 'please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the LORD.
18
But may the LORD forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning on my arm and I have to bow there also--when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD forgive your servant for this."
19
Go in peace,' Elisha said. After Naaman had traveled some distance,
20
Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, 'My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.'
21
So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him. 'Is everything all right?' he asked.
22
Everything is all right,' Gehazi answered. 'My master sent me to say, 'Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.''
23
By all means, take two talents,' said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi.
24
When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left.
25
When he went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, 'Where have you been, Gehazi?' 'Your servant didn't go anywhere,' Gehazi answered.
26
But Elisha said to him, 'Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money or to accept clothes--or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves?
27
Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.' Then Gehazi went from Elisha's presence and his skin was leprous--it had become as white as snow.
Chapter 6
1 The company of the prophets said to Elisha, 'Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us.
2
Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to meet.' And he said, 'Go.'
3
Then one of them said, 'Won't you please come with your servants?' 'I will,' Elisha replied.
4
And he went with them. They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees.
5
As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. 'Oh no, my lord!' he cried out. 'It was borrowed!'
6
The man of God asked, 'Where did it fall?' When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float.
7
Lift it out,' he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it.
8
Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, 'I will set up my camp in such and such a place.'
9
The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: 'Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.'
10
So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.
11
This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, 'Tell me! Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?'
12
None of us, my lord the king,' said one of his officers, 'but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.'
13
Go, find out where he is,' the king ordered, 'so I can send men and capture him.' The report came back: 'He is in Dothan.'
14
Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.
15
When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. 'Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?' the servant asked.
16
Don't be afraid,' the prophet answered. 'Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.'
17
And Elisha prayed, 'Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.' Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
18
As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, 'Strike this army with blindness.' So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
19
Elisha told them, 'This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.' And he led them to Samaria.
20
After they entered the city, Elisha said, 'LORD, open the eyes of these men so they can see.' Then the LORD opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria.
21
When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, 'Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?'
22
Do not kill them,' he answered. 'Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master.'
23
So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel's territory.
24
Some time later, Ben-Hadad king of Aram mobilized his entire army and marched up and laid siege to Samaria.
25
There was a great famine in the city; the siege lasted so long that a donkey's head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter of a cab of seed pods for five shekels.
26
As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried to him, 'Help me, my lord the king!'
27
The king replied, 'If the LORD does not help you, where can I get help for you? From the threshing floor? From the winepress?'
28
Then he asked her, 'What's the matter?' She answered, 'This woman said to me, 'Give up your son so we may eat him today, and tomorrow we'll eat my son.'
29
So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I said to her, 'Give up your son so we may eat him,' but she had hidden him.'
30
When the king heard the woman's words, he tore his robes. As he went along the wall, the people looked, and they saw that, under his robes, he had sackcloth on his body.
31
He said, 'May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders today!'
32
Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. The king sent a messenger ahead, but before he arrived, Elisha said to the elders, 'Don't you see how this murderer is sending someone to cut off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold it shut against him. Is not the sound of his master's footsteps behind him?"
33
While he was still talking to them, the messenger came down to him. The king said, 'This disaster is from the LORD. Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?'
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The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® Copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New American Standard Bible Copyright© 1960 - 2020 by The Lockman Foundation.
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright© 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.