2 Kings 13

Joahaz the King of Israel followeth the sin of Jerobeam, vers.1, &c. Is oppressed by Hazael, 3. Helped by his prayer, 4. Dieth, and Joab his son reigneth, who is like unto his Father in Idolatry, 9. He dieth; Elisa is sick, prophecieth against the Syrians, dieth, 14. The Moabites fall into the land, 20. A dead man being cast into the Sepulchre of Elisa, is restored to life, Joas recovereth the cities, which the Syrians had taken from his father, 22.

1. In the three and twentieth year of Joas the son of Ahazia the King of Juda, Joahaz [Heb. Jehoachaz] the son of Jehu, became King over Israel at Samaria, (and reigned) [These words are here inserted, as also below v.10. out of 2 Kings 3:1. and 8.17,26. and 12.1. See also 1 King.15.on v.33.] seventeen years. [Whereof the two last were common to him with his son: see below v.10. and 22.]

2. And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD: for he walked after the sins of Jerobeam ths son of Nebat, [Understand chiefly the Idolatry instituted by him, which the Israelites by his command and example committed with the golden calves: see 1 Kings 12:26.

3. Therefore the anger of the LORD kindled against Israel: and he gave them [To wit, the Israelites] into the hand of Hazael King of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, [God so delivered up the Israelites into the power of the Syrians, that they were smitten, and oppressed by them, with the loss of part of their land] all those days. [to wit, of Joahaz King of Israel; namely, as long as he reigned alone: so also below v.22.]

4. But Joanaz besought earnestly the face of the LORD, and the LORD hearkened unto the him; for he saw that oppression of Israel, [This is spoken of God after the manner of men, and signifieth his fatherly care and pity towards those that are oppressed, and with true repentance of heart seek unto him: see Gen.31.on v.42.] that the King of Syria oppressed them.

5. (So the LORD gave Israel a Deliverer, [Namely Joas the son of Joahaz: see below v.25.] that they came out from under the hand [i.e. command: see Gen.16.on v.6. and Numb.31.on v.49.] of the Syrians; and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents, [i.e. in their houses and dwellings. The holy Scripture keepeth this phrase, looking at the practice of the Patriarchs, and of the Israelites in the wilderness, where they dwelt in tents: see Deut.16.on v.7.] as before time. [Heb. as yesterday, and ere yesterday.]

6. Neverthe less, they departed not from the sins of the house of Jerobeam, that made Israel to sin; (but) he [Namely Joahaz] walked therein: [or, in every one of them: to wit, sins. Compare above v.2.] and (there) remained the grove [understand the idolatrous grove, which Achab had caused to planted, 1 Kings 16:33. Of the idolatrous groves, see Deut.7. on v.5.] also at Samaria.)

7. For he had left no people to Joaz but fifty horsemen, and ten charets, and ten thousand footmen: For the King of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like dust (by) threshing. [i.e. Had oppressed them by many overthrows, and as it were trodden them under foot, as Ocean in those Countrys by threshing did down the ears of corn with their feet.]

8. Now the rest of the acts of Joahaz, and all that he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

9. And Joahaz fell a sleep with his fathers, and they buried him at Samaria: and Joaz his son reingned in his stead.

10. In the seven and thirtieth year of Joas King of Juda, [Which was about the fifteenth year of the reign of Joahaz. Compare above the annotate. on v.1.] Joas the son of Joahaz became King over Israel at Samaria, (and reigned) sixteen years.

11. And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD: he departed not from all the sins of Jerobeam the son of Nebat, [see above on ver.2.] who made Israel to sin, (but) he walked therein. [or, in every one of them.]

12. Now the rest of the acts of Joas, and all that he did, and his might, wherewith he fought against Amazia, King of Juda, are not they written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

13. And Joas fell a sleep with his Fathers, and Jerobeam sat on his Throne: [i.e. Became King: see 1 Kings 1. on v.13.] and Joas was buried at Samaria by the Kings of Israel.

14. Now Elisa was fallen sick of his sickness, whereof he died: and Joas King of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said; My Father, my father, [Thus he calleth him out of love and reverence] the charet of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. [see above chap.2. the annotate. on v.12.]

15. And Elisa said unto him; Take a bow and arrows: and he took unto him a bow and arrows.

16. And he said unto the King of Israel; Lay thine hand on the bow: [Hebr. make thine hand to ride upon the bow. This was a token to King Joas, that he was to undertake war] and he laid his hand (on it): AND Elisa laid his hands upon the Kings hand. [to wit, to signify to the King that God would sight with him; and that to the King that God would sight with him; and that our action must proceed from God, if it should be good; and must be blessed by him, if it should prosper.]

17. And he said, Open the window toward the East: [Which was toward Samaria] and he opened it: Then said of the LORDS deliverance, and an arrow of deliverance against the Syrians; [i.e. Let this arrows be a token to assure thee, that God will give thee Victory over thine Enemies, and deliver thy people from their power] for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek [see of this city 1 Sam.4.1. and 29.1. and 1 Kings 20:20. Others take this word not for a proper name, but translate it strongly, powerfully, mightyily] until they be consumed.

18. After that he said; Take the arrows: and he took them: Then he said unto the King of Israel; smite against still: [God did hereby signify unto Joas that he stood still: [God did hereby signify unto Joas that he should not be wanting in performing his duty therein. Now in that he smote the ground but three times, it did intimate some neglect and default, which he should commit in executing this punishment upon the Syrians; so that he also smote them but three times: see below v.25.]

19. Then the man of God was very angry with him: and said; Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then shouldest thou have smitten the Syrians until thou hadst consumed (them): but now thou shalt smite the Syrians thrice.

20. After that Elisa died, and they buried him: Now the hands [That is, certain troops, or companies of robbing, and plundering souldiers: see above chap.5. on verse 2.] of the Moabites came into the Land at the coming in of the year.

21. And it came to pass, as they buried a man, that, behold, they spread a hand (of men); so they cast the man into the Sepulchre of Elisa; and when the man came into it, and touched the bones of Elisa, he revived, and stood upon his feet.

22. Now Hazael King of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Joahaz. [i.e. As long as he reigned; to wit, alone and before he admitted Joas his son to reign with him: for from that very time did God begin to deliver his people by Joas.]

23. But the LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and turned towards them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: [Wherein God had promised, that he would be not onely their God, but also the God of their seed, gen.17.7.] and he would not destroy them, neither did he cast them away from his face hitherto.

24. And Hazael King of Syria died; and Benhadad his son became King in his stead.

25. Now Joas the son of Joahaz took again [Heb. returned, and took: see Numb.11.on v.4.] out of the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, the cities which he had taken out of the hand of Joahaz his Father by war: Joas smote him three times, and the cities of Issrael. [To wit, to the Kingdom of Israel: the full phrase is below chap.14.v.22,28.]