2 Kings 13

Jehoahaz’s Reign over Israel

1 In the twenty-third year of the reign of Judah’s King Joash son of Ahaziah, Jehu’s son Jehoahaz became king over Israel. He reigned in Samarias for seventeen years.2 He did evil in the sight oft the Lord. He continued int the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat who had encouraged Israel to sin; he did not repudiate those sins.t

3 The Lord was furious witht Israel and handed them over tot King Hazael of Syria and to Hazael’s son Ben Hadad for many years.t
4 Jehoahaz asked for the Lord’s mercyt and the Lord responded favorably,t for he saw that Israel was oppressed by the king of Syria.t5 The Lord provided a deliverers for Israel and they were freed from Syria’s power.t The Israelites once more lived in security.t6 But they did not repudiatet the sinful ways of the familyt of Jeroboam, who encouraged Israel to sin; they continued in those sins.s There was even an Asherah polets standing in Samaria.

7 Jehoahaz had no army leftt except for fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and 10,000 foot soldiers. The king of Syria had destroyed his troopst and trampled on them like dust.t
8 The rest of the events of Jehoahaz’s reign, including all his accomplishments and successes, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.t

9 Jehoahaz passed awayt and was buriedt in Samaria. His son Joash replaced him as king.

Jehoash’s Reign over Israel

10 In the thirty-seventh year of King Joash’s reign over Judah, Jehoahaz’s son Jehoash became king over Israel. He reigned in Samarias for sixteen years.11 He did evil in the sight oft the Lord. He did not repudiatet the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat who encouraged Israel to sin; he continued in those sins.t12 The rest of the events of Joash’ss reign, including all his accomplishments and his successful war with King Amaziah of Judah, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.t

13 Joash passed awayt and Jeroboam succeeded him on the throne.t Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

Elisha Makes One Final Prophecy

14 Now Elisha had a terminal illness.t King Joash of Israel went down to visit him.t He wept before him and said, “My father, my father! The chariott and horsemen of Israel!”s15 Elisha told him, “Take a bow and some arrows,” and he did so.t16 Then Elishat told the king of Israel, “Aim the bow.”t He did so,t and Elisha placed his hands on the king’s hands.

17 Elishat said, “Open the east window,” and he did so.t Elisha said, “Shoot!” and
he did so.t Elishat said, “This arrow symbolizes the victory the Lord will give you over Syria.t You will annihilate Syria in Aphek!”t18 Then Elishat said, “Take the arrows,” and he did so.t He told the king of Israel, “Strike the ground!” He struck the ground three times and stopped.

19 The prophett got angry at him and said, “If you had struck the ground five or six times, you would have annihilated Syria!t But now, you will defeat Syria only three times.”
20 Elisha died and was buried.t Moabite raiding parties invadedt the land at the beginning of the year.s

21 One day some ment were burying a man when they spottedt a raiding party. So they threw the dead mant into Elisha’s tomb. When the bodyt touched Elisha’s bones, the dead mant came to life and stood on his feet.
22 Now King Hazael of Syria oppressed Israel throughout Jehoahaz’s reign.t23 But the Lord had mercy on them and felt pity for them.t He extended his favor to themt because of the promise he had madet to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He has been unwilling to destroy them or remove them from his presence to this very day.t24 When King Hazael of Syria died, his son Ben Hadad replaced him as king.

25 Jehoahaz’s son Jehoash took back fromt 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.

2 Kings 13

1 In the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years.2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.3 And the anger of Jehovah was kindled 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 And Jehoahaz besought Jehovah, and Jehovah hearkened unto him; for he saw the oppression of Israel, how that the king of Syria oppressed them.5 (And Jehovah gave Israel a saviour, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians; and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents as beforetime.6 Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, wherewith he made Israel to sin, but walked therein: and there remained the Asherah also in Samaria.)7 For he left not to Jehoahaz of the people save 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, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?9 And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his stead.

10 In the thirty and seventh year of Joash king of Judah began Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned sixteen years.11 And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah; he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin; but he walked therein.12 Now the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might wherewith he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?13 And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

14 Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died: and Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over him, and said, My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof!15 And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows; and he took unto him bow and arrows.16 And he said to the king of Israel, Put thy hand upon the bow; and he put his hand upon it. And Elisha laid his hands upon the king’s hands.17 And he said, Open the window eastward; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot; and he shot. And he said, Jehovah’s arrow of victory, even the arrow of victory over Syria; for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them.18 And he said, Take the arrows; and he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground; and he smote thrice, and stayed.19 And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times: then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it, whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.

20 And Elisha died, and they buried him. Now the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.21 And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.

22 And Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.23 But Jehovah was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet.24 And Hazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in his stead.25 And 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. Three times did Joash smite him, and recovered the cities of Israel.