But in the seventh month ¹  Ishmael son of Nethaniah, son of Elishama, who was a member of the royal family, ²  came with ten of his men and murdered Gedaliah, ³  as well as the Judeans and Babylonians who were with him at Mizpah.

The prophet ¹  asked, “Where did it drop in?” When he showed him the spot, Elisha ²  cut off a branch, threw it in at that spot, and made the ax head float.

Then the king asked her, “What’s your problem?” She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Hand over your son; we’ll eat him today and then eat my son tomorrow.’

The prophet told the king, “Two seahs of barley will sell for a shekel, and a seah of finely milled flour for a shekel; this will happen about this time tomorrow in the gate of Samaria.”

When they saw the chest was full of silver, the royal secretary ¹  and the high priest counted the silver that had been brought to the Lord’s temple and bagged it up. ² 

Jehoahaz’s son Jehoash took back from ¹  Ben Hadad son of Hazael the cities that he had taken from his father Jehoahaz in war. Joash defeated him three times and recovered the Israelite cities.

Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The Lord’s word which you have announced is appropriate.” ¹  Then he added, ²  “At least there will be peace and stability during my lifetime.” ³ 

This will happen because they have abandoned me and offered sacrifices ¹  to other gods, angering me with all the idols they have made. ²  My anger will ignite against this place and will not be extinguished!’”

What follows is a record of what happened to Jerusalem and Judah because of the Lord’s anger; he finally threw them out of his presence. ¹  Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

When the messengers returned to the king, ¹  he asked them, “Why have you returned?”

He said to his father, “My head! My head!” His father ¹  told a servant, “Carry him to his mother.”

She said, “Did I ask my master for a son? Didn’t I say, ‘Don’t mislead me?’”

She came in, fell at his feet, and bowed down. Then she picked up her son and left.

But when they went to bury her, they found nothing left but ¹  the skull, feet, and palms of the hands.

In those days the Lord began to reduce the size of Israel’s territory. ¹  Hazael attacked their eastern border. ² 

But the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places.

Jeroboam passed away ¹  and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. ²  His son Zechariah replaced him as king.

King Shalmaneser of Assyria threatened ¹  him; Hoshea became his subject and paid him tribute.

When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and went to the Lord’s temple.

Certainly you have heard how the kings of Assyria have annihilated all lands. ¹  Do you really think you will be rescued? ²