2 Kings 13

2 Kings 13:1

K. King Jehoahaz of Israel (13:1-9)Jehoahaz the son of Jehu was king of Israel for seventeen years (814/13798 B.C.). Jehoahaz followed Jeroboam in the mixed worship of Jehovah and the Asherah (v. 6). God punished him by sending the Syrians against Israel. They reduced Jehoahaz’s forces to only fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers. When Jehoahaz pleaded with the LORD, He raised up a deliverer who rescued Israel from . . . the hand of the Syrians. The deliverer might have been Adad-nirari III, king of Assyria, who late in the reign of Jehoahaz caused more and more trouble for Syria, leaving her little time to bother Israel. Some commentators suggest that Elisha was the deliverer. Others say that verse 5 refers to either Jehoash (v. 25) or Jeroboam II (2Ki_14:26-27). Verse 23 explains why God answered Jehoahaz’s prayer: It was because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Notice that verses 5 and 6 are a parenthesis. The parenthesis is one of grace. Before another century passed, Israel would be swept off the promised land because of her persistence in the sins of Jeroboam. By providing a deliverer for the nation, the Lord was seeking to turn her from her destructive course before the final stroke of judgment fell. However, they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam . . . but walked in them.

2 Kings 13:10

L. King Jehoash (Joash) of Israel (13:10-13)Jehoash (Joash) the son of Jehoahaz was king of Israel for sixteen years (798782/81 B.C.; 2 Kings 13:1014:16). 13:10-13 This King Jehoash is to be differentiated from the king of Judah with the same name who was reigning at this time. The reign of this Jehoash was wicked, patterned after that of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. These verses give a condensed account of his reign: He became king; he did evil in the sight of the LORD; he rested with his fathers. His dealings with Amaziah of Judah are recorded in 2Ki_14:8-16.

2 Kings 13:14

M. The Close of Elisha’s Ministry (13:14-25)13:14-19 Verses 14-25 tell of the prophecy and death of Elisha, which took place during the rule of Jehoash. When the prophet Elisha was dying, Joash (Jehoash) visited him and wept over him, saying, “O my father, my father, the chariots of Israel and their horsemen!” He meant that men of Elisha’s caliber were the truest and best defense of the people of Israel. Elisha had used the same words to lament the passing of Elijah (2Ki_2:12). He realized that the death of the prophet would be a great loss to the kingdom. From his sickbed, Elisha directed Joash to take a bow and some arrows, to shoot one arrow eastward, and then to strike the ground with the arrows.

The arrow that shot eastward signified victory over the Syrians, who had occupied Israel’s land east of the Jordan. Because Joash had struck the ground only three times, he would strike down Syria . . . only three times. If he had struck five or six times, the threat of Syria would have been eliminated. But he lacked perseverance and endurance. Victory over enemies depends on the measure of obedience. Joash must have known the significance of what he was doing, or else he would not have been held responsible.

Elisha’s death spelled no good for the northern kingdom. 13:20, 21 In the spring of each year, marauding bands of Moabites invaded the land. One day as some men of Israel were taking out a corpse to be buried, they saw one of these marauding bands approaching. Hurriedly they opened the tomb of Elisha and threw the corpse in. As soon as the man . . . touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet. 13:22-25 Scripture tells us nothing of the last forty-five years of Elisha’s ministry, from the anointing of Jehu, in 841 B.C. (chap. 9), until his death in about 795 B.C. His final prophecy (from his deathbed) was one of victory (v. 17). His final miracle (accomplished long after his deathv. 21) was a validation of his message and ministry to Israel and her king. In fulfillment of Elisha’s prophecy, Jehoash . . . recaptured . . . the cities which . . . Hazael . . . had taken from Israel. This was accomplished by three successive victories.