2 Kings 13

King James Version

Full text for 2 Kings Chapter 13

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.

2And 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.

3And 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.

4And 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.

6Nevertheless 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.)

7Neither 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.

8Now 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?

9And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his stead.

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.

11And 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.

12And 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?

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

14Now 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.

15And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows.

16And 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.

17And 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].

18And 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.

19And 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.

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

21And 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.

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

23And 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.

24So Hazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in his stead.

25And 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

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.

Medium Summary

Second Kings chapter 13 chronicles the reigns of Jehoahaz and his son Joash, kings of Israel, both of whom persisted in the idolatrous practices of Jeroboam, leading to divine judgment. Under Jehoahaz, Israel suffered severe oppression from Hazael and Benhadad of Syria, though the Lord heard Jehoahaz's plea and provided a measure of deliverance. Despite this, Israel did not abandon its sins, remaining weakened. Later, as Elisha lay dying, King Joash visited him, receiving a prophetic instruction involving arrows. Elisha foretold deliverance from Syria, but Joash's limited obedience in striking the ground only thrice led Elisha to declare that Israel's victories would be similarly limited. After Elisha's death and burial, a miraculous event occurred where a dead man revived upon touching Elisha's bones. Ultimately, King Joash defeated Benhadad of Syria three times, recovering lost cities, thus fulfilling Elisha's prophecy of limited success.

Long Summary

Second Kings chapter 13 opens with the reign of Jehoahaz over Israel, who, like his predecessors, continued to commit evil in the sight of the LORD by following the idolatrous sins of Jeroboam. Consequently, the LORD's anger was kindled, and Israel was delivered into the oppressive hands of Hazael and Benhadad, kings of Syria, significantly diminishing Israel's military strength. Although Jehoahaz besought the LORD, and the LORD, seeing Israel's affliction, provided a saviour, the people nevertheless did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam's house, and the idolatrous grove remained in Samaria. Upon Jehoahaz's death, his son Joash (Jehoash) ascended the throne, also perpetuating the sins of Jeroboam. A pivotal moment in the chapter is the account of the prophet Elisha's final sickness. King Joash visited the dying prophet, expressing his sorrow and recognizing Elisha as "the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof." Elisha instructed Joash to shoot an arrow eastward, signifying the LORD's deliverance from Syria, and then to strike the ground with arrows. Joash, however, struck the ground only three times, which greatly angered the man of God. Elisha declared that had Joash struck five or six times, he would have utterly consumed Syria, but now he would only smite them thrice. Elisha subsequently died and was buried. A remarkable miracle occurred at his tomb when a dead man, hastily cast into Elisha's sepulchre to avoid Moabite raiders, revived upon touching Elisha's bones. Despite Israel's persistent sin, the LORD remained gracious and compassionate towards them, remembering His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and chose not to utterly destroy them. Following Hazael's death, his son Benhadad reigned in Syria. King Joash then engaged Benhadad in battle, recovering the cities that Hazael had taken from his father Jehoahaz. Joash defeated Benhadad three times, thereby fulfilling Elisha's prophecy of limited, yet significant, victories against Syria.

Core Concepts

  • Sin of JeroboamThis refers to the idolatrous worship practices introduced by Jeroboam I, specifically the golden calves at Bethel and Dan, which kings of Israel like Jehoahaz and Joash continued to follow, leading to divine judgment.
  • Syrian OppressionDue to Israel's sin, the LORD delivered them into the hands of Hazael and Benhadad of Syria, who severely oppressed and diminished Israel's military and territory.
  • Divine Compassion and CovenantDespite Israel's persistent wickedness and the resulting oppression, the LORD showed grace and compassion, remembering His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and did not utterly destroy them.
  • Elisha's Final ProphecyOn his deathbed, Elisha gave King Joash a symbolic prophecy involving arrows, indicating that Israel would achieve deliverance from Syria, but the extent of their victory would be limited by the king's faith and obedience.
  • Limited VictoryBecause King Joash struck the ground only three times with the arrows, Elisha prophesied that Israel would defeat Syria only thrice, rather than achieving complete consumption of their enemy.
  • Posthumous MiracleAfter Elisha's death, a dead man revived upon touching the prophet's bones in his sepulchre, demonstrating the enduring power associated with the man of God.
  • Recovery of CitiesKing Joash fulfilled Elisha's prophecy by defeating Benhadad of Syria three times, successfully recovering the cities that the Syrians had previously taken from Israel.