CH 6: So the Arameans are now at war with Israel outright. But every single time the king of Aram plans anything, the king of Israel totally avoids the raid by letting that town know of their plan. The king of Aram is so frustrated and upset he wants to know how in the world is this possible? He calls his officers together and demands to know who is the traitor. The officers already know it's Elisha! They know God is telling Elisha all of the kings plans and so there's no way for the king to plan anything against Israel. The king gets so mad that he sends a whole army after him (It's the same king who asked Elisha to heal Naaman, yes!) The troops found Elisha and surrounded him, but Elisha asked God to blind them. He then came out of his home and told them they were in the wrong town and he led them to Samaria, where the king of Israel was. When they got there he prayed God to open their eyes and immediately they were afraid, surrounded by the army of Israel. The king asked Elisha if he should kill them, and Elisha tells him, of course not, we feed our prisoners of war and send them back home. The king then had a great feast with Aram's army and then sent them home. Aram's armies would not enter Israel after this hahahaha!
Well the king of Aram decided to siege Samaria and starve them out sometime later. Hunger got so bad that people were eating other people! The king of Israel actually blamed this siege on Elisha, thinking it was because they had let Aram's army go instead of killing them all, so he sent someone to cut off Elisha's head.
CH 7: When the person to kill Elisha got to his door, before he could do anything Elisha told the killer: By this time tomorrow in the market places of Samaria 5 quarts of choice flour will cost only 1 piece of silver... vs 1
The messenger laughed at him and Elisha said, not only will it happen but you won't be able to eat any of it! vs 2
Soon after, a group of lepers went to visit the enemy camp for food because they were so very hungry. The Lord caused the enemy's army to hear hundreds of chariots and horses and they panicked and took off back home to Aram. When the lepers got there, there was plenty to eat and drink! They rushed back and told the gate guards that the camp was empty, and the Israelites sent a small group to make sure this was really true. After they saw it was indeed true they ran back and the whole town of Samaria came to the camp and plundered it. There was so much that 5 quarts of choice flour was only 1 piece of silver! It had happened just as Elisha said. And also, the man who had laughed at Elisha saw this happen right before he was trampled to death by the mob that ran out of the gate when the king of Israel tried to control the goods coming out of that camp.
CH 8: Meanwhile, the king of Aram got really sick and even though he was dyeing, someone close to the king, Hazael suffocated him so he could become the next king (Elisha had foretold Hazael that he would and he didn't want to wait).
As for the kingdom of Judah, Jehoram, the son of king Jehoshaphat began to rule in the 5th year of the reign of Joram, son of Ahab who was king of Israel. Jehoram ruled like his father Ahab and was wicked. He ruled 8 years but lost a large town called Edom, in a revolt. They had decided to separate from Judah and crown their own king. And soon after he also lost the town of Libnah. His son Ahaziah began to rule Judah the the 12th year of the reign of Joram son of Ahab, king of Israel. Ahaziah also followed his father's evil ways and was wicked.
Chapter 9 is the beginning of The Era of Israel's Fourth Dynasty... stay tuned!