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
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 sight of the LORD, 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 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
Jehoahaz begged the LORD, and the LORD listened to him; for he saw the oppression of Israel, how that the king of Syria oppressed them. ​
5
(the LORD gave Israel a savior, 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 therein: and there remained the Asherah also 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.

Jehoash Succeeds His Father

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 sight of the LORD; he didn’t depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which 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 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: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

Elisha's Dying Prophecy

14
Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness 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 to him bow and arrows.
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 shall 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 shall strike Syria just three times.” ​

Death and Posthumous Miracle of Elisha

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 the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet. ​

God's Covenant Faithfulness and Deliverance

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 to 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
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. ​

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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