2 Kings 13

Kings of Israel: Jehoahaz and Jehoash

1In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu became king over Israel at Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years. 2He did evil in the sight of the Lord, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, 1with which he made Israel sin; he did not turn from them. 32So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and He gave them continually into the hand of 3Hazael king of Aram, and into the hand of 4Ben-hadad the son of Hazael. 4Then 5Jehoahaz entreated the favor of the Lord, and the Lord listened to him; for 6He saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Aram oppressed them. 5The Lord gave Israel a 78deliverer, so that they 9escaped from under the hand of the Arameans; and the sons of Israel lived in their tents as formerly. 6Nevertheless they did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, 10with which he made Israel sin, but walked in 11them; and 12the Asherah also remained standing in Samaria. 7For he left to Jehoahaz of the 13army not more than fifty horsemen and ten chariots and 10,000 footmen, for the king of Aram had destroyed them and 14made them like the dust at 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 became king in his place.

10In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned sixteen years. 11He did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not turn away from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel sin, but he walked in 15them. 1216Now the rest of the acts of Joash and all that he did and his might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 13So Joash slept with his fathers, and Jeroboam sat on his throne; and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

Death of Elisha

14When Elisha 17became sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash the king of Israel came down to him and wept over 18him and said, “19My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” 15Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and arrows.” So he 20took a bow and arrows. 16Then he said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” And he put his hand on it, then Elisha laid his hands on the king’s hands. 17He said, “Open the window toward the east,” and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot!” And he shot. And he said, “The Lord’s arrow of victory, even the arrow of victory over Aram; for you will 21defeat the Arameans at 22Aphek until you have 23destroyed them.” 18Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground,” and he struck it three times and 24stopped. 19So 25the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck five or six times, then you would have struck Aram until you would have 26destroyed it. But now you shall strike Aram 27only three times.”

20Elisha died, and they buried him. Now 28the bands of the Moabites would invade the land in the spring of the year. 21As they were burying a man, behold, they saw a marauding band; and they cast the man into the grave of Elisha. And when the man 29touched the bones of Elisha he 30revived and stood up on his feet.

22Now 31Hazael king of Aram had oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. 23But the 32Lord was gracious to them and 33had compassion on them and turned to them because of 34His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them or cast them from His presence until now.

24When Hazael king of Aram died, Ben-hadad his son became king in his place. 25Then 35Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again from the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael the cities which he had taken in war from the hand of Jehoahaz his father. 36Three times Joash 37defeated him and recovered the cities of Israel.