2 Ki. 8: Royal Line of Succession...Er...Failure

2 Kings 8:12 "Why is my lord weeping?" asked Hazael.

"Because I know the harm you will do to the Israelites," he answered. "You will set fire to their fortified places, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little children to the ground, and rip open their pregnant women."

The Shunammite woman's land is restored. She was told by Elisha to go away for seven years, because her land would be confaminated. She wisely goes and lives amongst the Philistines for some reason. Having a conference with Gehazi (pre-leprosy?) and the king, she has her land restored, and all the money which was given to her. So she gets hooked up. Creditors at bay. A son. Son restored. Homestead restored after famine. I guess she got God's Deluxe Package! Was it merely because she built the man of God a room? Probably. And I wondered why she was different than all these kings who offered Elisha wealth and property. Probably because she just wanted to be kind. Excess isn't kindness. Excess stinks of making a deal, a compromise. Something the proper prophet was instructed and warned against...with dire consequences for disobedience.

Moving on, more kings. More evildoers. Another in the line of David is evil, but God keeps the candle burning for David. David's line must have some significance above all the others.

In Aram, Ben-Hadad is murdered and succeeded by Hazael. Hazael get's verse 12's gem prophesied about him.

In Judah, Jehoram succeeds Jehoshaphat, and is evil. Ahaziah succeeds Jehoram, and is evil too. Ahaziah took Joram of Israel to war against Hazael of Aram.So, good times Israel/Judah/Aram. Way to go.