prayer of the prophet. But a third captain, sent with another fifty, begging earnestly of the prophet that his life, and that of his men, might be precious in his sight, Elijah at the command of an angel, went down and delivered the message to the dying king.

A. M.

3105. Q. Who succeeded Ahaziah ?

B. C. 899.

Jehosaphat 18.

A. Jehoram his brother, because Ahaziah had no son.

Q. What signal honour was conferred in this reign on Elijah?

A. He was taken up to heaven by a whirlwind. Q. By what was this circumstance preceded? A. Elijah, (whose intended removal from this life was not unknown to the prophets,) unable to induce Elisha to leave him, walked with him to the Jordan, which being divided by Elijah's mantle, they passed over on dry ground.

Q. What happened beyond the Jordan ?

A. Elisha solicited a double portion of his master's spirit, which, though "a hard thing," was promised, provided Elisha saw him when he was taken up. While conversing together, "behold, a chariot of fire, and horses of fire that parted them both asunder.-And Elisha beheld, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof:" and he rent his clothes.

Q. How did Elisha prove that the spirit of Elijah rested upon him?

A. He took the mantle of Elijah which had fallen, and smote the Jordan, saying, "Where is the LORD

God of Elijah?" and the waters immediately divided, and he passed over to Jericho.

Q. Was any search made for Elijah?

A. Yes the prophets, notwithstanding the assurances of Elisha, imagining the Spirit of the Lord might have cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley,* sent fifty men to seek for him; "and they sought three days, but found him not."

Q. What service did Elisha render to Jericho ?

A. The inhabitants lamenting the badness of the water, and the barrenness of the land, Elisha cast salt into the spring, and healed the water and the land in the name of the Lord.

Q. What occurred in his way to Bethel ?

A. A great number of children came out of the city, and mocked him saying, "Go up, thou bald head!† go up, thou bald head! and he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two of them."

2. Mention some of the miracles wrought by this prophet?

A. He multiplied the widow's oil to enable her to pay her creditors; gave a son to the Shunammite, whose

* Some similar circumstance to that mentioned, Acts viii. 39, 40. must have occurred at a former period to warrant this supposition -See 1 Kings xviii. 12. Ezek. iii. 14, 15, viii. 3. xi. 1, 2 Corinth, xii. 2, 3,

They taunted him with what they probably considered the false story of Elijah's translation.

husband was a very old man; and when the lad died some years after, restored him again to life; healed the deadly pottage; multiplied the loaves of bread; cured Naaman of the leprosy; and caused iron to swim.

Q. By what was the death of Ahab followed?

A. By the rebellion of Mesha, king of Moab, who had been tributary to Israel. Jehoram, therefore, having induced Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and the king of Edom to join him, invaded Moab.

Q. What was the issue of the war?

A. At first the Israelites were much distressed for want of water. But having consulted Elisha, he commanded them to fill the valley with ditches, assured them that they should have abundance of water, and moreover, that the Lord would deliver the Moabites into their hand. This accordingly came to pass: for on the morrow, while offering the morning sacrifice, the valley was filled with water. The reflection of the sun upon it, gave it an appearance of blood to the Moabites, who concluded that the confederated troops had smitten one another. They hastened, therefore, in expectation of plunder, to the camp of the Israelites, where a sanguinary conflict ensued. The king of Moab, seeing that the battle went against him, offered his eldest son for a burnt offering upon the wall. The Israelites, however, were victorious; and after wasting the enemy's country, they returned to their own land.

Q. In what war was Jehoram next engaged?

A. In a war with Benhadad, king of Syria, in which Elisha rendered him great service by apprizing him of

the enemy's designs. Benhadad being consequently frustrated, suspected his servants of treachery; but they assured him of their fidelity, and attributed the discovery of his plans to Elisha.

Q. To what measure had Benhadad thereupon recourse? A. Designing to seize the person of the prophet, then at Dothan, he sent horses and chariots and a great host, which compassed the city about. At the sight of them, the servant of the man of God was sore afraid; but at the prayer of the prophet, his eyes were opened, and "he saw and, behold, the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha :" and the Syrians, when they "came down to him," were smitten with blindness.* Q. What became of them?

A. Elisha accosted them, and, promising to conduct them to the man whom they sought, led them to Samaria. "And 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." But when Jehoram would have smitten them, he was overruled by the prophet,† who bade him set victuals before them, and send them back to their master. Q. By what calamity was this event followed? A. By a famine of seven years' continuance. Towards

Not a privation of sight, but a holding of the eyes, similar to that which prevented the two disciples from knowing the Lord Jesus. Luke xxiv. 16.

+ Elisha seems to have had great influence with Jehoram.— See 2 Kings iv. 13.

its close, Benhadad laid siege to Samaria; and the dearth of provisions became so great, that a woman boiled and ate her own son.

Q. What circumstance arose out of this?

A. A woman, who had partaken of the horrid repast on condition that her son should be the next victim, having hid her child, complaint was made to Jehoram, who immediately sent a messenger to take off Elisha's head; but the prophet, having acquainted the elders who were with him at the time, of the king's intention, caused the door to be secured until Jehoram himself came down.* "And Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD: Thus saith the LORD, To-morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria." But "a lord on whose hand the king leaned, answered the man of God and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof." Q. How was this prediction verified?

A. The Lord caused the Syrians to hear the noise of a great host, which so alarmed them that leaving their tents and every thing behind them, they fled with the utmost precipitation. Four Israelitish lepers whom want and despair had determined to go to the Syrian camp, finding it deserted, ate and drank heartily, and

This explication of 2 Kings vi. 30–33. is given by the Rev. T. STACKHOUSE, who assigns the concluding expression in the chapter to Jehoram.-See Hist. of Bib. vol. iv, book 6.