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.

Jehoahaz Reigns Over Israel

1
It was in the twenty-third year of Yo'ash the son of Achazyah, king of Y'hudah, that Y'ho'achaz the son of Yehu began his reign over Isra'el in Shomron; he ruled for seventeen years. ​
2
He did what was evil from ADONAI's perspective; he followed the sins of Yarov'am the son of N'vat, who made Isra'el sin; and he never ceased committing those sins. ​
3
ADONAI's anger burned against Isra'el, and he kept handing them over to Haza'el king of Aram and Ben-Hadad the son of Haza'el. ​
4
But Y'ho'achaz pleaded to ADONAI, and ADONAI listened to him, because he saw the oppression the king of Aram was inflicting on Isra'el. ​
5
So ADONAI gave Isra'el a savior who freed them from the grip of Aram, so that the people of Isra'el could live in their tents, as they had before. ​
6
Despite that, instead of turning from the sins of the house of Yarov'am, who made Isra'el sin, they continued to live in this sinful way. Moreover, the asherah continued to stand in Shomron. ​
7
The king of Aram destroyed Y'ho'achaz's army, making them like chaff when grain is threshed, except for fifty horsemen, ten chariots and 10,000 foot soldiers. ​
8
Other activities of Y'ho'achaz, all his accomplishments and his power are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Isra'el.
9
Y'ho'achaz slept with his ancestors, and they buried him in Shomron. Then Yo'ash his son took his place as king.

Jehoash Succeeds His Father

10
It was in the thirty-seventh year of Yo'ash king of Y'hudah that Yo'ash the son of Y'ho'achaz began his rule over Isra'el in Shomron; he ruled for sixteen years. ​
11
He did what was evil from ADONAI's perspective and did not turn from all the sins of Yarov'am the son of N'vat, who made Isra'el sin; on the contrary, he lived in this sinful way.
12
Other activities of Yo'ash, all his accomplishments and his power in fighting Amatzyah king of Y'hudah are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Isra'el.
13
Yo'ash slept with his ancestors, and Yarov'am occupied his throne. Yo'ash was buried in Shomron with the kings of Isra'el.

Elisha's Dying Prophecy

14
Elisha was now ill with the disease from which he would eventually die. Yo'ash the king of Isra'el came down to visit him and wept over him; he said, "My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Isra'el!" ​
15
Elisha said to him, "Bring a bow and arrows"; and he brought him a bow and arrows.
16
He said to the king of Isra'el, "Put your hand on the bow"; and he put his hand on it. Then Elisha laid his hands on the king's hands ​
17
and said, "Open the east window." He opened it. Elisha said, "Shoot"; and he shot. He said, "ADONAI's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory against Aram! You will defeat Aram completely at Afek!" ​
18
He said, "Take the arrows"; and he took them. He told the king of Isra'el, "Strike the ground." He struck three times, then stopped. ​
19
The man of God became angry with him; he said, "You should have struck five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram completely. As it is, you will defeat Aram only three times." ​

Death and Posthumous Miracle of Elisha

20
Elisha died, and they placed him in a burial cave. Now the raiding parties of Mo'av used to make yearly incursions into the land at the start of the year. ​
21
Once it happened that just as they were burying a man, they spotted a raiding party; so they threw the man's body into Elisha's burial cave; and the moment the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet. ​

God's Covenant Faithfulness and Deliverance

22
Haza'el king of Aram oppressed Isra'el throughout the lifetime of Y'ho'achaz;
23
but ADONAI was gracious, took pity on them and looked on them with favor, because of his covenant with Avraham, Yitz'chak and Ya'akov. He was not willing to destroy them, and to this day he has not banished them from his presence. ​
24
Haza'el king of Aram died, and Ben-Hadad his son took his place as king.
25
Then Y'ho'ash the son of Y'ho'achaz captured from Ben-Hadad the son of Haza'el the cities which he had captured in war from Y'ho'achaz his father. Three times Yo'ash defeated him, thus recovering the cities of Isra'el. ​

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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