Study Desk

Elisha had said, "A person will be able to buy a basket of fine flour or two baskets of barley for only one shekel in the marketplace by the city gates of Samaria."

Elisha talked to the woman whose son he had brought back to life. He said, "You and your family should move to another country, because the Lord has decided that there will be a famine here. It will last for seven years."

So the woman did what the man of God said. She went with her family to stay in the land of the Philistines for seven years.

Elisha began to stare. He stared for an embarrassingly long time. Then the man of God began to cry.

In Jehoram's time Edom broke away from Judah's rule. The people of Edom chose a king for themselves.

When the young man arrived, he saw the captains of the army sitting. He said, "Captain, I have a message for you." Jehu asked, "Which one of us is the message for?" The young man said, "For you, sir."

You must destroy the family of Ahab your king. In this way I will punish Jezebel for the deaths of my servants, the prophets, and the deaths of all the Lord 's servants who were murdered.

"As soon as you get this letter, choose the one who is the best and most worthy among your master's sons. You have chariots and horses. And you are living in a strong city. You also have weapons. Put the son you choose on his father's throne. Then fight for your master's family."

Jehu said, "Come with me. You can see how strong my feelings are for the Lord ." So Jehonadab rode in Jehu's chariot.

Jehu said, "Prepare a holy meeting for Baal." So the priests announced the meeting.

Jehu said to the man who kept the robes, "Bring out the robes for all the worshipers of Baal." So that man brought out the robes for the Baal worshipers.

The Lord said to Jehu, "You have done well. You have done what I say is good. You destroyed Ahab's family the way I wanted you to, so your descendants will rule Israel for four generations."

Jehu ruled over Israel in Samaria for 28 years.

Then Joash and Jehosheba hid in the Lord 's Temple. Joash hid there for six years. During that time Athaliah ruled over the land of Judah.

In the seventh year Jehoiada the high priest sent for the captains of the Carites and guards. He brought them together in the Lord 's Temple and made an agreement with them. There in the Temple of the Lord he forced them to make a promise. Then he showed the king's son to them.

Athaliah saw the king by the column where new kings usually stood. She also saw the leaders and men playing the trumpets for him. She saw that all the people were very happy. She heard the trumpets, and she tore her clothes to show she was upset. Then Athaliah shouted, "Treason! Treason!"

For as long as he lived, Joash did what the Lord considered right. He did what Jehoiada the priest taught him.

so King Joash called for Jehoiada the priest and the other priests. Joash said to them, "Why haven't you repaired the Temple? Stop taking money from the people you serve. That money must be used to repair the Temple."

So Jehoiada the priest took a box and made a hole in the top of it. Then he put the box on the south side of the altar. This box was by the door where people came into the Lord 's Temple. Some of the priests were there to guard this doorway. They took the money that people brought for the Lord 's temple and put it into this box.

Whenever the king's secretary and the high priest saw that the box was full, they counted all the money that had been given for the Lord 's Temple and put it in bags.