II Kings 13 Commentary
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.
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.
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 Ben–hadad the son of Hazael, all their days.
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.
(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.
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.)
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.
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?
And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his stead.
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.
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.
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?
And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
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.
And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows.
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.
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.
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.
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.
And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.
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.
But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.
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.
So Hazael king of Syria died; and Ben–hadad his son reigned in his stead.
And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Ben–hadad 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.
This chapter of II Kings, II Kings 13, recounts the reigns of Jehoahaz and Jehoash (also called Joash) over Israel, marked by their continued idolatry and the resulting consequences. Despite their unfaithfulness, God's mercy shines through, particularly through the ministry of the prophet Elisha, offering both judgment and hope.
The Reign of Jehoahaz (II Kings 13:1-9)
Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, ascended to the throne of Israel (II Kings 13:1). Sadly, he perpetuated the sins of Jeroboam, leading Israel into idolatry (II Kings 13:2). He was the first of the four generations of Jehu’s descendants whom God promised would occupy Israel’s throne (see 10:30). This consistent turning away from God brought divine judgment upon the nation. God used Aram (Syria) as an instrument to oppress Israel (II Kings 13:3).
In his distress, Jehoahaz sought the Lord's favor (II Kings 13:4). God, in His grace, provided a deliverer, offering Israel relief from the Arameans (II Kings 13:5). The identity of this deliverer is not specified. However, this deliverance didn't lead to lasting repentance. The people reverted to their idolatrous practices (II Kings 13:6), echoing the cyclical pattern of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance familiar from the book of Judges. Consequently, God maintained Israel's weakness, leaving them with a small army vulnerable to enemy attacks (II Kings 13:7).
The Reign of Jehoash (II Kings 13:10-13)
Jehoash succeeded Jehoahaz as king of Israel, reigning for sixteen years. Like his father and grandfather, Jehoash continued to do evil in the sight of the Lord (II Kings 13:10-11). The biblical account provides limited details about his reign, mentioning primarily his war against Judah (II Kings 13:12).
Elisha's Final Prophecy and Death (II Kings 13:14-21)
Despite the negative portrayal of Jehoash's reign, a significant event occurred: the final days of the prophet Elisha. When Jehoash learned of Elisha's illness, he visited the prophet, weeping and exclaiming, "My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!" (II Kings 13:14). This was the same way that Elisha had addressed Elijah when the latter was taken away in a fiery chariot from heaven (see 2:11-12). This demonstrates a recognition of Elisha's vital role in Israel's defense and well-being, even by a flawed king. Jehoash recognized that Elisha was his divine lifeline if Israel were to receive any aid during their crisis with Aram.
Elisha, nearing death, prophesied victory over Aram. He instructed Jehoash to take a bow and arrows and shoot an arrow eastward, symbolizing victory over Aram (II Kings 13:15-17). Elisha placed his hands on the king's hands, signifying that this victory was not solely dependent on the king's strength, but on God's power. The arrow, when linked to the spiritual through God's touch, became the Lord's arrow of victory. The ordinary became extraordinary when linked to the spiritual. The battle was now a spiritual one, and the weapons of war were now sanctified.
Elisha then instructed Jehoash to strike the ground with the remaining arrows (II Kings 13:18). Unfortunately, Jehoash only struck the ground three times. Elisha, displeased, declared that Israel would only defeat Aram three times, instead of achieving a complete victory (II Kings 13:19). This illustrates that God’s supernatural power and promises do not negate our responsibility to act in faith. Complete obedience and engagement are needed for complete victory. Jehoash's limited action reflected a lack of zeal and trust in God's promise, resulting in a partial victory.
Even after Elisha's death and burial, God's power manifested through his bones. When a dead man was thrown into Elisha's tomb and touched his bones, he was resurrected (II Kings 13:20-21)! This remarkable event underscores that the power Elisha wielded in life was not his own, but God's, and that power transcended even death.
Deliverance from Aram (II Kings 13:22-25)
As Elisha had prophesied, Jehoash defeated Aram three times and recovered the cities Israel had lost (II Kings 13:25). Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, God remained gracious, fulfilling His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (II Kings 13:23). This showcases God's faithfulness and long-suffering, even towards a rebellious people. The Lord is “slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth” (Exod 34:6). However, the chapter subtly foreshadows the eventual consequences of Israel's persistent sin, hinting that God's patience would eventually run out, leading to the northern kingdom's defeat and exile.
This chapter of II Kings 13 serves as a powerful reminder of God's mercy and judgment, the importance of obedience and faith, and the enduring power of God that extends beyond even death. It emphasizes that while God is faithful to His promises, complete victory requires complete commitment and trust in Him.
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.
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.
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 Ben–hadad the son of Hazael, all their days.
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.
(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.
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.)
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.
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?
And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his stead.
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.
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.
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?
And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
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.
And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows.
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.
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.
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.
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.
And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.
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.
But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.
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.
So Hazael king of Syria died; and Ben–hadad his son reigned in his stead.
And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Ben–hadad 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.
This chapter of II Kings, II Kings 13, recounts the reigns of Jehoahaz and Jehoash (also called Joash) over Israel, marked by their continued idolatry and the resulting consequences. Despite their unfaithfulness, God's mercy shines through, particularly through the ministry of the prophet Elisha, offering both judgment and hope.
The Reign of Jehoahaz (II Kings 13:1-9)
Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, ascended to the throne of Israel (II Kings 13:1). Sadly, he perpetuated the sins of Jeroboam, leading Israel into idolatry (II Kings 13:2). He was the first of the four generations of Jehu’s descendants whom God promised would occupy Israel’s throne (see 10:30). This consistent turning away from God brought divine judgment upon the nation. God used Aram (Syria) as an instrument to oppress Israel (II Kings 13:3).
In his distress, Jehoahaz sought the Lord's favor (II Kings 13:4). God, in His grace, provided a deliverer, offering Israel relief from the Arameans (II Kings 13:5). The identity of this deliverer is not specified. However, this deliverance didn't lead to lasting repentance. The people reverted to their idolatrous practices (II Kings 13:6), echoing the cyclical pattern of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance familiar from the book of Judges. Consequently, God maintained Israel's weakness, leaving them with a small army vulnerable to enemy attacks (II Kings 13:7).
The Reign of Jehoash (II Kings 13:10-13)
Jehoash succeeded Jehoahaz as king of Israel, reigning for sixteen years. Like his father and grandfather, Jehoash continued to do evil in the sight of the Lord (II Kings 13:10-11). The biblical account provides limited details about his reign, mentioning primarily his war against Judah (II Kings 13:12).
Elisha's Final Prophecy and Death (II Kings 13:14-21)
Despite the negative portrayal of Jehoash's reign, a significant event occurred: the final days of the prophet Elisha. When Jehoash learned of Elisha's illness, he visited the prophet, weeping and exclaiming, "My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!" (II Kings 13:14). This was the same way that Elisha had addressed Elijah when the latter was taken away in a fiery chariot from heaven (see 2:11-12). This demonstrates a recognition of Elisha's vital role in Israel's defense and well-being, even by a flawed king. Jehoash recognized that Elisha was his divine lifeline if Israel were to receive any aid during their crisis with Aram.
Elisha, nearing death, prophesied victory over Aram. He instructed Jehoash to take a bow and arrows and shoot an arrow eastward, symbolizing victory over Aram (II Kings 13:15-17). Elisha placed his hands on the king's hands, signifying that this victory was not solely dependent on the king's strength, but on God's power. The arrow, when linked to the spiritual through God's touch, became the Lord's arrow of victory. The ordinary became extraordinary when linked to the spiritual. The battle was now a spiritual one, and the weapons of war were now sanctified.
Elisha then instructed Jehoash to strike the ground with the remaining arrows (II Kings 13:18). Unfortunately, Jehoash only struck the ground three times. Elisha, displeased, declared that Israel would only defeat Aram three times, instead of achieving a complete victory (II Kings 13:19). This illustrates that God’s supernatural power and promises do not negate our responsibility to act in faith. Complete obedience and engagement are needed for complete victory. Jehoash's limited action reflected a lack of zeal and trust in God's promise, resulting in a partial victory.
Even after Elisha's death and burial, God's power manifested through his bones. When a dead man was thrown into Elisha's tomb and touched his bones, he was resurrected (II Kings 13:20-21)! This remarkable event underscores that the power Elisha wielded in life was not his own, but God's, and that power transcended even death.
Deliverance from Aram (II Kings 13:22-25)
As Elisha had prophesied, Jehoash defeated Aram three times and recovered the cities Israel had lost (II Kings 13:25). Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, God remained gracious, fulfilling His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (II Kings 13:23). This showcases God's faithfulness and long-suffering, even towards a rebellious people. The Lord is “slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth” (Exod 34:6). However, the chapter subtly foreshadows the eventual consequences of Israel's persistent sin, hinting that God's patience would eventually run out, leading to the northern kingdom's defeat and exile.
This chapter of II Kings 13 serves as a powerful reminder of God's mercy and judgment, the importance of obedience and faith, and the enduring power of God that extends beyond even death. It emphasizes that while God is faithful to His promises, complete victory requires complete commitment and trust in Him.