2 Kings Chapter 13
1 In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria for seventeen years.
2 He did that which was evil in the LORD's sight, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin. He didn't depart from it.
3 The LORD's anger burnt against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, continually.
4 Jehoahaz begged the LORD, and the LORD listened to him; for he saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Syria oppressed them.
5 (The LORD gave Israel a saviour, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians; and the children of Israel lived in their tents as before.
6 Nevertheless they didn't depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, with which he made Israel to sin, but walked in them; and the Asherah also remained in Samaria.)
7 For he didn't leave to Jehoahaz of the people any more than fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria destroyed them, and made them like the dust in threshing.
8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and his might, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
9 Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria; and Joash his son reigned in his place.
10 In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz began to reign over Israel in Samaria for sixteen years.
11 He did that which was evil in the LORD's sight. He didn't depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin; but he walked in them.
12 Now the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
13 Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat on his throne. Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
14 Now Elisha became sick with the illness of which he died; and Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over him, and said, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!"
15 Elisha said to him, "Take bow and arrows;" and he took bow and arrows for himself.
16 He said to the king of Israel, "Put your hand on the bow;" and he put his hand on it. Elisha laid his hands on the king's hands.
17 He said, "Open the window eastward;" and he opened it. Then Elisha said, "Shoot!" and he shot. He said, "The LORD's arrow of victory, even the arrow of victory over Syria; for you will strike the Syrians in Aphek, until you have consumed them."
18 He said, "Take the arrows;" and he took them. He said to the king of Israel, "Strike the ground;" and he struck three times, and stopped.
19 The man of God was angry with him, and said, "You should have struck five or six times. Then you would have struck Syria until you had consumed it; whereas now you will strike Syria just three times."
20 Elisha died, and they buried him. Now the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.
21 As they were burying a man, behold, they saw a band of raiders; and they threw the man into Elisha's tomb. As soon as the man touched Elisha's bones, he revived, and stood up on his feet.
22 Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.
23 But the LORD was gracious to them, and had compassion on them, and had respect for them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, and he didn't cast them from his presence as yet.
24 Hazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in his place.
25 Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael the cities which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Joash struck him three times, and recovered the cities of Israel.
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2 Kings Chapter 13 Guide
Under Jehoahaz the story of corruption ran on in Israel. It was the story of continuation of evil as moral, and its consequent continuation as punishment. Readiness of God to forgive is revealed in the parenthesis. A consciousness of the terrible condition of the people seems to have taken possession of the king, and he besought the Lord. In answer to his prayer a saviour was raised up. No particulars are here given. In all probability they are to be found in chapter fourteen.
Jehoahaz was succeeded by Jehoash, the chief event of whose reign was his visit to Elisha. The prophet was now sick and feeble. In the midst of his perplexities, Jehoash went to see him. It is interesting to notice that he addressed him with the selfsame words which Elisha had used of Elijah at the moment of his translation, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel, and the horsemen thereof!" and here evidently with the same meaning. The king recognized that the true strength of the nation was not its military equipment, but its possession of such as interpreted the will of God. In his intercourse with Elisha the weakness of the king was manifest. While following the prophetic signs, he lacked that passion and consecration which were necessary to the full accomplishment of his purpose. There was no heart in his striking on the ground with the arrows, and the prophet foretold his limitation and ultimate failure.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
2 Kings Chapter 13 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- Reign of Jehoahaz. -- (1-9)
- Jehoash, king of Israel, Elisha dying. -- (10-19)
- Elisha's death, The victories of Jehoash. -- (20-25)
Verses 1-9
It was the ancient honour of Israel that they were a praying people. Jehoahaz, their king, in his distress, besought the Lord; applied himself for help, but not to the calves; what help could they give him? He sought the Lord. See how swift God is to show mercy; how ready to hear prayer; how willing to find a reason to be gracious; else he would not look so far back as the ancient covenant Israel had so often broken, and forfeited. Let this invite and engage us for ever to him; and encourage even those who have forsaken him, to return and repent; for there is forgiveness with him, that he may be feared. And if the Lord answer the mere cry of distress for temporal relief, much more will he regard the prayer of faith for spiritual blessings.
Verses 10-19
Jehoash, the king, came to Elisha, to receive his dying counsel and blessing. It may turn much to our spiritual advantage, to attend the sick-beds and death-beds of good men, that we may be encouraged in religion by the living comforts they have from it in a dying hour. Elisha assured the king of his success; yet he must look up to God for direction and strength; must reckon his own hands not enough, but go on, in dependence upon Divine aid. The trembling hands of the dying prophet, as they signified the power of God, gave this arrow more force than the hands of the king in his full strength. By contemning the sign, the king lost the thing signified, to the grief of the dying prophet. It is a trouble to good men, to see those to whom they wish well, forsake their own mercies, and to see them lose advantages against spiritual enemies.
Verses 20-25
God has many ways to chastise a provoking people. Trouble comes sometimes from that point whence we least feared it. The mention of this invasion on the death of Elisha, shows that the removal of God's faithful prophets is a presage of coming judgments. His dead body was a means of giving life to another dead body. This miracle was a confirmation of his prophecies. And it may have reference to Christ, by whose death and burial, the grave is made a safe and happy passage to life to all believers. Jehoash was successful against the Syrians, just as often as he had struck the ground with the arrows, then a stop was put to his victories. Many have repented, when too late, of distrusts and the straitness of their desires.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.