Life and death are in the hands of God

What appear to be two unrelated events show on the one hand God's continued care for the faithful remnant and on the other God's continued judgment on unbelieving Israel. In the first the Lord shows his ability to provide constantly for the Shunammite woman and her son in days of divine judgment – 7 years provision in Philistia, and then in restoring her home and land in Israel. In the second we hear of Hazael and his barbarity. He is the divinely appointed scourge of Israel for many years to come. Elisha, however, weeps Christ-like over the prospect of such terrible judgment on his people hardened in their sin.