2 Kings chapter 13

Evil Jehoahaz becomes king of Israel. Evil Jehoash becomes king of Israel. Elisha dies. Elisha’s corpse revives a dead Moabite man.

 


 

EVIL JEHOAHAZ BECOMES KING OF ISRAEL

 

VERSE 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.

seventeen years. That is, from 814 to 798 BC.

 

VERSE 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.

He did that which was evil. Jehoahaz is yet another evil king in a long line of evil kings.

 

VERSE 3. The LORD’s anger burned 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.

The LORD’s anger burned against Israel. The evil of the king causes the entire nation to fall into disfavor.

 

VERSE 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.

Jehoahaz begged the LORD. Given that Jehoahaz is an evil king, this is probably a desperate momentary plea.

 

VERSE 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.

The LORD gave Israel a savior. That is, the LORD God gave them someone who delivered them from the enemy.

 

VERSE 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.)

they didn’t depart from the sins. The nation does not repent.

That is not surprising. People tend to imitate their leaders. When the king is evil, the people become evil.

 

VERSE 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.

 

VERSE 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?

 

VERSE 9. Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria; and Joash his son reigned in his place.

Jehoahaz slept with his fathers. That is, he died.

 

EVIL JEHOASH BECOMES KING OF ISRAEL

 

VERSE 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.

 

VERSE 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.

He did that which was evil. Jehoahaz is yet another evil king in a long line of evil kings.

 

VERSE 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?

 

VERSE 13. Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat on his throne. Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

Joash slept with his fathers. That is, he died.

 

ELISHA DIES

 

VERSE 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!”

Elisha became sick. Even the mightiest of the prophets are not invulnerable to our human condition. Even they get sick.

the chariots of Israel and its horsemen! Horses and chariots appear in the Old Testament. They are not a natural phenomenon of the time-space continuum. What are they? Read more »

 

VERSE 15. Elisha said to him, “Take bow and arrows;” and he took bow and arrows for himself.

 

VERSE 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.

 

VERSE 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.”

 

VERSE 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.

Strike the ground. Elisha does not say how many times to strike the ground.

 

VERSE 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, but now you will strike Syria just three times.”

You should have struck five or six times. Elisha did not tell the king to do that. And there is no way the king could have known to do that.

 

ELISHA’S CORPSE REVIVES A DEAD MOABITE MAN

 

VERSE 20. Elisha died, and they buried him. Now the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.

 

VERSE 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.

he revived, and stood up on his feet. Some Moabites tossed a dead body into Elisha’s open tomb. The dead body came back to life!

The prophet Elijah performed seven known miracles. And his disciple Elisha performed 15. Read more »

 

VERSE 22. Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.

 

VERSE 23. But the LORD was gracious to them, and had compassion on them, and favored 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.

 

VERSE 24. Hazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in his place.

 

VERSE 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

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25

RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Corrupt Leaders, Miracles, Horses and Chariots of Fire

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