2 Kings 8 2

2 Kings 8:2 kjv

And the woman arose, and did after the saying of the man of God: and she went with her household, and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years.

2 Kings 8:2 nkjv

So the woman arose and did according to the saying of the man of God, and she went with her household and dwelt in the land of the Philistines seven years.

2 Kings 8:2 niv

The woman proceeded to do as the man of God said. She and her family went away and stayed in the land of the Philistines seven years.

2 Kings 8:2 esv

So the woman arose and did according to the word of the man of God. She went with her household and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years.

2 Kings 8:2 nlt

So the woman did as the man of God instructed. She took her family and settled in the land of the Philistines for seven years.

2 Kings 8 verses

2 Kings 8 2 Meaning

Second Kings 8:2 describes the obedient action of a woman, identified elsewhere as the Shunamite woman, who follows the direct instruction of the prophet Elisha, referred to as the man of God. Due to a divinely foreseen seven-year famine, she departed with her entire household from her home in Israel and found temporary refuge as a sojourner in the land of the Philistines. The verse underscores her faith and prompt obedience to prophetic word in the face of impending hardship.

2 Kings 8 2 Context

Verse 2 of 2 Kings 8 immediately follows Elisha's prophetic warning in 2 Kings 8:1 to the woman (known as the Shunamite woman from 2 Kings 4) concerning an impending seven-year famine upon the land. This verse shows her swift and full compliance. The broader context of 2 Kings chapters 4-8 focuses on the diverse and powerful ministry of Elisha, the "man of God," including miraculous provisions, healings, and warnings of judgment. The narrative highlights God's sovereignty over nature, nations, and human affairs, demonstrated through His prophet. The famine serves as a divine judgment on Israel, yet God mercifully provides a way of escape for His faithful. Historically, this period reflects the political instability and moral decline within the northern kingdom of Israel, often facing pressure from neighboring Aram (Syria) and, later, the rise of Assyrian power, against a backdrop of intermittent famine. The choice of Philistia, a historically hostile neighboring region, for refuge is noteworthy, emphasizing the severity of the famine in Israel and God's expansive providence.

2 Kings 8 2 Word analysis

• And the woman: Referring to the well-known Shunamite woman from 2 Kgs 4. Her identity and previous interactions with Elisha establish her trust and previous experience of God's miraculous power through the prophet, giving credibility to her swift action.

• did according to the word: Hebrew ‘āśâ kěḏeḇar (עָשָׂה כִּדְבַר). This signifies complete and immediate obedience. It's not just hearing but acting precisely as instructed, showcasing active faith and trust in the divine messenger.

• of the man of God: Hebrew ’îsh hā’ělōhîm (אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים). A consistent title for a prophet throughout Kings, signifying someone specifically set apart by God and speaking with divine authority. This title highlights the divine source of the command, not merely human advice.

• and she went: A simple, decisive verb indicating prompt departure without hesitation, demonstrating her deep conviction in the prophecy.

• with her household: Implies her entire family unit – children, possibly servants or dependents. Her obedience extends to her responsibility for those under her care, showing leadership in faith.

• and sojourned: Hebrew gūr (גּוּר). To dwell as a temporary resident, an alien, not a permanent inhabitant. This term conveys that their stay was provisional and strategic, not a permanent relocation or absorption into the local culture, highlighting a pilgrim mentality even during displacement.

• in the land of the Philistines: A region southwest of Israel, historically often hostile. That a land often associated with conflict or idolatry would become a place of refuge for a faithful Israelite indicates the widespread nature and severity of the famine in Israel, and God's providence extending beyond the borders of His covenant people's land. It subtly suggests God's control over even other nations.

• seven years: The exact duration of the famine as prophesied. In biblical numerology, "seven" often signifies completeness, perfection, or a divinely appointed period. This specific period emphasizes God's sovereign control over the duration of the judgment and the woman's precise obedience for the appointed time.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "And the woman did according to the word of the man of God": This phrase encapsulates the core theme of obedient faith. It presents a strong example of how one should respond to divine warning or instruction delivered through a prophet. Her prior history with Elisha (raising her son, 2 Kgs 4) reinforced her trust in his words as from God.
  • "and she went with her household, and sojourned": This depicts the practical and costly nature of her obedience. It involved leaving her home, moving her family, and adopting a transient status, showing the depth of her commitment. It demonstrates that faith is active and involves physical action.
  • "in the land of the Philistines seven years": This specifies the destination and duration, highlighting God's sovereign hand over the timing and geography of events. Her refuge in a "foreign" land and for a "fixed" period underlines God's provision for His faithful, even through unusual or seemingly difficult circumstances. It implies that God has prepared the way and timed the event perfectly.

2 Kings 8 2 Bonus section

The seemingly minor detail of the woman moving to Philistia underscores God's intricate orchestration. While Israel faced judgment, a safe haven was prepared in a neighboring, often hostile, nation. This challenges ethnocentric perspectives, showing God's provision can come from unexpected sources, even from outside the typical covenant community. This relocation to a foreign land mirrors the broader biblical theme of sojourning, echoing the patriarchal journeys and prefiguring the spiritual reality of believers as aliens and strangers on earth. The return of the woman after "seven years" (as detailed later in the chapter, 2 Kgs 8:3-6) completes this cycle, emphasizing the temporary nature of her displacement and God's ultimate restoration of His faithful.

2 Kings 8 2 Commentary

Second Kings 8:2 provides a powerful testament to the spiritual discipline of prompt and full obedience to God's revealed will, channeled through His prophet. The Shunamite woman's actions were not based on mere suggestion but on an authoritative "word" from the "man of God," Elisha, concerning a divinely ordained seven-year famine. Her decision to "go" immediately with her "household" and "sojourn" in the "land of the Philistines" exemplifies extraordinary faith, as it meant uprooting her life, moving to a foreign land with historical antagonism toward Israel, and facing the uncertainties of temporary dwelling. This narrative underscores divine foresight (the prophecy of the famine), human responsibility (her obedient response), and providential care (her family's preservation through relocation). The specific duration of "seven years" points to the fixed nature of God's plans and the precise extent of the woman's trust in them. The passage also subtly reveals God's sovereignty reaching beyond Israel, using even a rival nation's territory as a refuge for His people when His own land is under judgment, thus showing His universal control and ultimate protective care over those who trust and obey.