They replied, “A man came to meet us and said, ‘Go back to the king who sent you and declare to him, “This is what the LORD says: Is it because there is no God in Israel that you’re sending these men to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore, you will not get up from your sickbed; you will certainly die.” ’ ”

The king asked them, “What sort of man came up to meet you and spoke those words to you? ”

So King Ahaziah sent a captain with his fifty men to Elijah. When the captain went up to him, he was sitting on top of the hill. He announced, “Man of God, the king declares, ‘Come down! ’ ”

Elijah responded to the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men.

Elijah responded, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” So a divine fire[fn] came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men.

Then the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. The third captain went up and fell on his knees in front of Elijah and begged him, “Man of God, please let my life and the lives of these fifty servants of yours be precious to you.

“Already fire has come down from heaven and consumed the first two captains with their companies, but this time let my life be precious to you.”

Then the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the LORD will take your master away from you today? ”

He said, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”

Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; the LORD is sending me to Jericho.”

But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.

Then the sons of the prophets who were in Jericho came up to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the LORD will take your master away from you today? ”

He said, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”

Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the LORD is sending me to the Jordan.”

But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on.

When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken from you.”

So Elisha answered, “Please, let me inherit two shares of your spirit.”

Elijah replied, “You have asked for something difficult. If you see me being taken from you, you will have it. If not, you won’t.”

Then the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “Since there are fifty strong men here with your servants, please let them go and search for your master. Maybe the Spirit of the LORD has carried him away and put him on one of the mountains or into one of the valleys.”

He answered, “Don’t send them.”

When they returned to him in Jericho where he was staying, he said to them, “Didn’t I tell you not to go? ”

However, Elisha said to King Joram of Israel, “What do we have in common? Go to the prophets of your father and your mother! ”

But the king of Israel replied, “No, because it is the LORD who has summoned these three kings to hand them over to Moab.”

Elisha responded, “By the life of the LORD of Armies, before whom I stand: If I did not have respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah, I wouldn’t look at you; I would not take notice of you.

“For the LORD says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the wadi will be filled with water, and you will drink ​— ​you and your cattle and your animals.’

“This is easy in the LORD’s sight. He will also hand Moab over to you.

Elisha asked her, “What can I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house? ”

She said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.”

Then he said, “Go out and borrow empty containers from all your neighbors. Do not get just a few.

“Then go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour oil into all these containers. Set the full ones to one side.”

She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go sell the oil and pay your debt; you and your sons can live on the rest.”

Then he said to Gehazi, “Say to her, ‘Look, you’ve gone to all this trouble for us. What can we do for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army? ’ ”

She answered, “I am living among my own people.”

Elisha said, “At this time next year you will have a son in your arms.”

Then she said, “No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your servant.”

But he said, “Why go to him today? It’s not a New Moon or a Sabbath.”

She replied, “It’s all right.”

Then she saddled the donkey and said to her servant, “Go fast; don’t slow the pace for me unless I tell you.”

“Run out to meet her and ask, ‘Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your son all right? ’ ”

And she answered, “It’s all right.”

So Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tuck your mantle under your belt, take my staff with you, and go. If you meet anyone, don’t stop to greet him, and if a man greets you, don’t answer him. Then place my staff on the boy’s face.”

The boy’s mother said to Elisha, “As the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So he got up and followed her.

Elisha called Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite woman.” He called her and she came. Then Elisha said, “Pick up your son.”

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.”

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.”

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’? ”

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.”

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.

“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,[fn] and I have to bow in the temple of Rimmon ​— ​when I bow[fn] in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD pardon your servant in this matter.”

Gehazi came and stood by his master. “Where did you go, Gehazi? ” Elisha asked him.

He replied, “Your servant didn’t go anywhere.”

“And my heart didn’t go[fn] 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?

“Therefore, Naaman’s skin disease will cling to you and your descendants forever.” So Gehazi went out from his presence diseased, resembling snow.[fn]

Then one said, “Please come with your servants.”

“I’ll come,” he answered.

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.”

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.

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.”