A few things stand out to me in this section of scripture:

1. It covers a great deal of the life and ministry of the prophet, Elisha…like yesterday’s reading covered most of the life of his predecessor, Elijah.
2. A number of kings are mentioned (Ben-Hadad, Hazael, Jehoram, Ahaziah, Jeru, Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Amaziah, Jereboah II, Azariah, Zechariah, Shallum, and Menahem).
3. Much of this section of scripture was filled with violence.
4. 2 Kings 5 tells the story that we heard at our 5-Day Bible Club this week.  Naaman was healed by God of his leprosy.  Though initially he questioned how he would become clean when Elisha told him to go wash 7 times in the Jordan River, he finally did it.  Naaman thought that the Abana or Pharpar rivers of Damascus were much cleaner.  He quickly found out that the water wasn’t the point, it was being obedient to God.  When he obeyed and did what the Lord said, he was cleansed.  The Lord is willing to cleanse our hearts too – if we will only trust and obey Him as our savior.