2 Kings 8 1

2 Kings 8:1 kjv

Then spake Elisha unto the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for the LORD hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years.

2 Kings 8:1 nkjv

Then Elisha spoke to the woman whose son he had restored to life, saying, "Arise and go, you and your household, and stay wherever you can; for the LORD has called for a famine, and furthermore, it will come upon the land for seven years."

2 Kings 8:1 niv

Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, "Go away with your family and stay for a while wherever you can, because the LORD has decreed a famine in the land that will last seven years."

2 Kings 8:1 esv

Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, "Arise, and depart with your household, and sojourn wherever you can, for the LORD has called for a famine, and it will come upon the land for seven years."

2 Kings 8:1 nlt

Elisha had told the woman whose son he had brought back to life, "Take your family and move to some other place, for the LORD has called for a famine on Israel that will last for seven years."

2 Kings 8 verses

2 Kings 8 1 Meaning

2 Kings 8:1 narrates the instruction Elisha gives to the Shunammite woman, whose son he had previously miraculously raised from the dead. He advises her and her entire household to relocate and find temporary residence elsewhere, specifically because the Lord Himself had declared a severe famine that would afflict the land of Israel for a period of seven years. This divine warning allowed her to preemptively escape the impending hardship.

2 Kings 8 1 Context

This verse is set within the larger narrative of Elisha's prophetic ministry in Israel during the reigns of several kings. It immediately follows an account of Elisha’s significant miracles, particularly the raising of the Shunammite woman's son in 2 Kings chapter 4, highlighting her deep faith and God's powerful work through His prophet. The command to leave the land comes after an unspecified period since that miracle, but it shows the continuity of divine care for those faithful to the Lord. Historically, Israel often faced periods of famine, sometimes as natural occurrences, but frequently in the biblical narrative as a direct consequence of divine judgment for national disobedience and idolatry. The emphasis that "the Lord has called for a famine" positions this particular event as an act of divine sovereignty and purpose, rather than random natural disaster. It sets the stage for her return later in the chapter and her recovery of land, again by divine orchestration.

2 Kings 8 1 Word analysis

• Now Elisha had said: This emphasizes the direct prophetic instruction, highlighting Elisha's role as God's messenger and the authority of his words. The action predates the main narrative point of the famine's arrival.
• to the woman: Refers specifically to the Shunammite woman, establishing a direct link to the prior miraculous encounter in 2 Kings 4, reminding the reader of God’s previous work in her life and her standing as a favored individual.
• whose son he had restored to life: This phrase serves as an important authentication of Elisha's authority and, more importantly, God's power. It justifies why she should heed this critical instruction, demonstrating that the one who raised her son from death can also foresee and command events of nature.
  • Original Hebrew for "restored to life": hiyyah (חִיָּה), from the root hayah, meaning "to live," in the Hiphil stem, implying "to cause to live" or "to preserve life."
• 'Arise and go,': An urgent command for immediate action. It signals the imminent and severe nature of the coming event.
• you and your household,: The instruction applies not only to her but also to her entire family unit, underscoring God's comprehensive care and provision for those associated with the faithful.
• and sojourn wherever you can sojourn,: Implies a need for temporary residence abroad, signifying a complete displacement from her current life. The repetition of "sojourn" (גּוּר – gur) emphasizes the temporary, migrant status she will adopt.
• for the Lord has called for a famine,: This is the core reason for the drastic instruction. It explicitly attributes the famine's origin to God's decree, not random chance or natural cycles. This is a theological statement, asserting God's sovereignty over natural phenomena.
  • Original Hebrew for "called": qara (קָרָא), meaning "to summon," "to proclaim," or "to call out," implying a deliberate and authoritative action.
  • Original Hebrew for "famine": ra'av (רָעָב), meaning "hunger" or "famine," denoting a severe shortage of food.
• and it will come upon the land: Affirms the certainty and universality of the famine across the region, underscoring the urgency for departure.
• for seven years.': Specifies the duration, which is a significant period often symbolic of completeness or judgment in biblical literature. A seven-year famine implies prolonged hardship, demanding sustained and extreme measures like leaving one's homeland. This detail highlights the severity of God's judgment and the depth of His foreknowledge.

2 Kings 8 1 Bonus section

• Polemics against Canaanite Deities: The declaration that "the Lord has called for a famine" functions as a direct polemic against the pagan worship of Baal and Asherah, who were worshipped by the surrounding nations and often by Israelites as gods of fertility, rain, and agricultural abundance. By explicitly stating that Yahweh orchestrates the famine, the text asserts His supreme and unchallenged authority over creation and providence, contrasting starkly with the impotent claims of these false deities to control the seasons and harvest.
• Typology of God's Guidance: This act of guiding His people away from impending disaster mirrors earlier biblical narratives of divine foresight and provision, such as Noah building the ark to escape the flood, or Abraham's call to leave Ur. It portrays God as an active and personal deliverer who directs the steps of His faithful followers.
• Seven Years: The seven-year duration of the famine is notable. Seven is often a number of completeness or divine fullness in the Bible. A famine of this length signifies a severe, protracted period of hardship, not merely a single season's bad crop. This reinforces the idea that it is a deliberate and significant act of God.

2 Kings 8 1 Commentary

2 Kings 8:1 presents a powerful theological statement about God's sovereignty over nature and His unwavering providential care for His faithful servants. The instruction from Elisha is not a mere warning but a direct revelation of God's decreed will regarding a devastating seven-year famine. This serves multiple purposes: it demonstrates God's judicial control over His creation, able to send hardship as He wills; it validates Elisha as a true prophet, whose word stems from divine revelation and holds consequences for the physical world; and most significantly, it highlights God's protective love for those who serve Him, epitomized by the Shunammite woman who previously witnessed God's miraculous power firsthand in her own son's resurrection. Her previous experience with divine intervention provided the foundation for her implicit trust and obedience to Elisha's grave instruction. The verse thereby underlines themes of divine foreknowledge, prophetic authenticity, and the Lord's intimate concern for His chosen ones amidst broader societal challenges.