Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Thursday, November 29, 2012 Read – 2 Kings 3 & 4 In chapter 3 the story returns to pick up the adventures of the kings. We are told again the story of Jehoram, brother of Ahaziah and son of Ahab, succeeding his father as king in the Northern Kingdom. Almost immediately he goes to war – this time against the Moabites who lived in the desert kingdom to the east of Israel. Jehoram gains the assistance of Jehoshaphat who is still king of the Southern Kingdom and the king of Edom. The counsel of Elisha is sought and because of the good will he has toward Jehoshaphat a good report is given. The three kings, who seem at first to be destined to defeat, will be victorious. For the next several chapters the story revolves around the miracles of Elisha. Like the Elijah miracles, these stories are important to the New Testament story of Jesus because they are echoed there. In a story similar to Elijah’s providing the widow of Zarephath with a food supply, Elisha provides oil for a widow and her family enabling them to survive. Like Elijah who raised the widow of Zarephath’s son back to life, Elisha raises the Shunammite woman’s son. Jesus will do similar miracles. Another of Elisha’s miracles has no referent with respect to either Elijah or Jesus – the purifying of the stew. But the feeding of the one hundred men with twenty loaves of barley bread and fresh ears of grain is reminiscent of Jesus feeding the 5000 and the 4000. The link between Elijah, Elisha, and Jesus is an important one for Christians.