2 Kings13

Second Kings chapter 13 details the reigns of Jehoahaz and his son Joash over Israel, both of whom continued in the idolatrous sins of Jeroboam. Despite their wickedness, the Lord showed compassion due to His covenant, partially delivering Israel from Syrian oppression. Elisha's final prophecy to King Joash foretold limited victories against Syria, a prophecy fulfilled after Elisha's death, which was also marked by a posthumous miracle.
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Jehoahaz Reigns Over Israel

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 the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom. ​
3
And the anger of the LORD 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, all their days. ​
4
And Jehoahaz besought the LORD, and the LORD hearkened unto him: for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them. ​
5
(And the LORD 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, who made Israel sin, but walked therein: and there remained the grove also in Samaria.) ​
7
Neither did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like the dust by 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.

Jehoash Succeeds His Father

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 the LORD; he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin: but he walked therein.
12
And 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.

Elisha's Dying Prophecy

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 his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot 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 thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put 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, The arrow of the LORD'S deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from 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. ​

Death and Posthumous Miracle of Elisha

20
And Elisha died, and they buried him. And 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 of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet. ​

God's Covenant Faithfulness and Deliverance

22
But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.
23
And the LORD 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
So 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 beat him, and recovered the cities of Israel. ​

Study Notes for 2 Kings 13

Verse 1

This verse establishes the synchronism between the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah), placing the beginning of Jehoahaz’s reign in the 23rd year of Joash of Judah.

Verse 2

Jehoahaz perpetuated the 'sins of Jeroboam,' referring to the state-sponsored calf worship centers at Bethel and Dan, which constituted the fundamental apostasy of the Northern Kingdom.

Verse 3

God used Hazael, the King of Syria (Damascus), as the instrument of judgment against Israel for their persistent idolatry, fulfilling the prophetic warnings given earlier to Elijah and Jehu.

Verse 4

Jehoahaz's prayer was likely a cry of desperation during military crisis rather than true spiritual repentance, yet God heeded him because of the cruelty Israel suffered under Syrian oppression.

Verse 5

The 'saviour' is not explicitly named here, but context suggests it was either the rise of Assyria distracting Syria, or perhaps the subsequent military successes of Jehoahaz's son, Joash (v. 25).

Verse 6

Despite God's deliverance, Israel did not abandon its idolatrous practices. The 'grove' (Asherah pole) remained standing in Samaria, indicating incomplete spiritual reform.

Verse 7

The severe reduction of Israel's military force (only 50 horsemen and 10 chariots) illustrates the devastating effectiveness of the Syrian attacks, fulfilling the covenant curses for disobedience (Deuteronomy 28).

Verse 10

Jehoash (also called Joash) ruled for sixteen years. Like his father, he continued the destructive cycle of idolatry established by the dynasty of Jeroboam I.

Verse 14

Joash’s lament, 'O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof,' is a term of highest respect previously used by Elisha for Elijah (2 Kings 2:12). It acknowledges Elisha's spiritual power as Israel's true military defense.

Verse 16

Elisha placing his hands over the king’s symbolizes the transfer of divine power and authority; the coming victory would be achieved not by the king’s skill alone, but by God’s intervention through the prophet's sign-act.

Verse 17

The shooting of the arrow is a symbolic act (sign-act) indicating that God guarantees a victory over Syria, specifically at Aphek, a strategic battleground known from earlier conflicts.

Verse 18

This act was a test of the king's faith and commitment; the number of times Joash struck the ground would determine the extent of God’s deliverance.

Verse 19

Elisha’s anger shows that the partial victory was due to the king’s lack of zeal and hesitant faith. Joash displayed limited commitment, resulting in only limited success against the Syrians.

Verse 20

The death of Elisha marks the end of the powerful prophetic ministry that began with Elijah. The Moabite invasions indicate the continued instability of Israel’s borders.

Verse 21

This final, dramatic miracle confirms Elisha’s divine authority. The life-giving power of God rested so completely upon Elisha that it remained even in his bones after death.

Verse 23

This verse provides the theological explanation for Israel's survival despite its persistent sin. God chose not to destroy them because of His unwavering loyalty to the covenant established with the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob).

Verse 25

Jehoash’s three victories precisely fulfill the limited prophecy Elisha gave him (v. 19), allowing Israel to recover the cities lost to Syria but not to eliminate the threat entirely.

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