Rashi on the Former Prophets

Elisha spoke to the woman. Seven years [before].
For Adonoy has proclaimed a famine. This is the hunger during the days of Yoel the son of Pesuel.

About her house and her field. Which robbers had occupied.

Elisha came to Damesek. To cause Geichazi to repent.

‘You will surely live.’ Pertaining to Chazoeil he said that he would live instead of Ben-Hadad [and occupy] the throne.

He [Elisha] kept his face emotionless. [He held in] his expression of grief, for he wanted to cry; he held it in, so that he would not cry in front of Chazoeil. He made a concentrated effort to stand and control himself.
For a long time. Like “בשש [=delay],” and he could not control himself [any longer] and he wept.

You will dash. An expression of splitting the intestines. The original source [for the meaning of תרטש is], “and bows will split [תְּרַטַּשְׁנָה] young men.”
And their pregnant women. Their pregnant women.

A blanket. [Targum] Yonoson renders גּוּנְכָא [=blanket], and similarly, “and she covered him with a blanket [=[בַּשְּׂמִיכָה,” he renders, בְּגוּנְכָא [=a blanket], i.e., a garment.
He spread it over his [Ben-Hadad’s] face. To cool off.

In the fifth year, etc. Yehoshophot crowned Yorom [who reigned] two years during his lifetime, when they returned from the war they had waged with the king of Mo’av; so it was taught in Seder Olam. In the fifth year of Yehorom[’s reign], which is the fiftieth [חָמֵשׁ] year” as it appears in Rashi’s caption. Rashi explains the verse that Yehorom son of Yehoshophot, began his reign in the fifth year since it was decreed on Yehoshophot to be killed in Ramos-Gilod. The decree was reprieved for seven years, so Yorom thus ruled for two years during Yehoshophot’s lifetime. Alternatively, “the fiftieth year” [as our text reads] may refer to the year in which Yehoshophot finished his dual kingship with his son Yehorom. It was in the year 3050. year of Yehoshophot, it was decreed for Yehoshophot to be killed in Ramos-Gilad, but [the decree] was reprieved for seven years because he cried out.

A kingdom. Kingdom.

And appointed a king over themselves. From the time of Dovid they did not have a king, as it is stated, “There was no king in Edom,.” [and] “And he appointed governors in Edom.” Eight kings reigned in Edom before a king reigned in Yisroel, they are listed in the Book of Bereishis. Corresponding to them, eight kings reigned in Yisroel: Ish-Boshes, Dovid, Shlomo, Rechovom, Aviyom, Asa, Yehoshophot, and Yehorom, while Edom had no king. What is written above that the king of Edom went with Yehorom son of Achov, and with Yehoshophot, to war against the king of Mo’av [can be explained that] he was not a real king, but a governor, who is also referred to as a king, as it is stated, “There was no king in Edom, the governor was king.” The governor served instead of a king.

That were surrounding him. Those near the border.

Livnoh rebelled. The inhabitants of Livnoh rebelled, and they rebelled against the king. I do not know from what nation they were, because Livnoh is part of Eretz Yisroel. But I say that they were of the tribe of Yehudah and they rebelled against the king.

And was buried with his forefathers in the City of Dovid. In Divrei Hayomim it states, “[They buried him] in the City of Dovid, but not in the graves of the kings.”