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2 Kings 13
Jehoahaz Reigns in Israel
In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years. He did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD and went after the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, by which he caused Israel to sin. He did not turn away from them. So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he gave them continually into the hand of Hazael king of Aram and into the hand of Ben-Hadad son of Hazael. But Jehoahaz sought the favor of the LORD, and the LORD listened to him, for he saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Aram oppressed them. The LORD gave Israel a savior, and they went out from under the hand of Aram. Then the children of Israel lived in their tents as formerly. Nevertheless they did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, by which he caused Israel to sin, but walked in them. The Asherah also remained standing in Samaria. For he left to Jehoahaz no army except fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers, for the king of Aram had destroyed them and made them like dust at threshing.
Jehoahaz Dies
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? Jehoahaz lay down with his ancestors, and they buried him in Samaria. Joash his son became king in his place.
Joash Reigns in Israel
In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned sixteen years. He did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD. He did not turn away from all the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, by which he caused Israel to sin; he walked in them. Now the rest of the acts of Joash and all that he did and his might, how he fought Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? Joash lay down with his ancestors, and Jeroboam sat upon his throne. Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
Elisha’s Final Prophecy
Now Elisha became sick with the sickness from which he would die. Joash king of Israel went down to him, wept over his face, and said, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and arrows.” So he took a bow and arrows. Then he said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” He put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands upon the king’s hands. He said, “Open the window eastward.” He opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot!” And he shot. He said, “The LORD’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram! You shall strike Aram at Aphek until you have brought it to an end.” Then he said, “Take the arrows.” He took them. He said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground.” He struck three times and stopped. The man of God became angry with him and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Aram until you brought it to an end. But now you will strike Aram only three times.”
A Dead Man Revives at Elisha’s Grave
Elisha died, and they buried him. Now raiding bands of Moab would enter the land at the coming of the year. And it happened as they were burying a man that behold, they saw a raiding band. They threw the man into Elisha’s grave. When the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.
Israel Recovers Cities from Aram
Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. But the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion on them and turned toward them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He was not willing to destroy them and did not cast them from his presence until now. Hazael king of Aram died, and Ben-Hadad his son became king in his place. Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz took back from the hand of Ben-Hadad son of Hazael the cities that he had taken in war from the hand of Jehoahaz his father. Three times Joash struck him and recovered the cities of Israel.