1
In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu became king over Israel in Samaria; and he reigned seventeen years.
2
He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and he walked in the sin of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, by which he caused Israel to sin; he did not turn away from it.
3
Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and He gave them into the hand of Hazael king of Aram, and into the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael, all that time.
4
But afterward Jehoahaz sought the favor of the LORD, and the LORD listened to him, for He saw how severely the king of Aram oppressed Israel.
5
— The LORD gave Israel a deliverer, so that they escaped from the hand of Aram and could dwell in their tents as before.
6
Nevertheless they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, by which he caused Israel to sin, but continued to walk in them. Also the Asherah pole still stood in Samaria. —
7
For no army was left to Jehoahaz except fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers, because the king of Aram had destroyed them and made them like dust at threshing.
8
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?
9
Then Jehoahaz rested with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria. And Joash his son became king in his place.
10
In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Joash the son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria. He reigned sixteen years.
11
He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not turn away from all the sins by which Jeroboam the son of Nebat had made Israel sin, but continued to walk in them.
12
Now the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might, and how he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
13
When Joash rested with his fathers, Jeroboam sat on his father’s throne. And Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
14
Now Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he was to die, and Joash king of Israel came down to him and wept over him, saying, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!”
15
Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and arrows.” So he took a bow and arrows.
16
He said to the king of Israel, “Take the bow in your hand.” So he took it; and Elisha laid his hands on the king’s hands.
17
Then he said, “Open the window toward the east.” And when he had opened it, Elisha said, “Shoot!” So he shot. Then Elisha said, “The arrow of the LORD’s victory, the arrow of victory over Aram! You shall strike Aram at Aphek until you have made an end of them.”
18
Then he said, “Take the arrows.” So he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground.” So he struck it three times, and stopped.
19
But the 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 had made an end of them. But now you will strike Aram only three times.”
20
Then Elisha died, and they buried him. Now the bands of Moab used to invade the land at the coming in of the year.
21
As some men were burying a man, behold, they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man into the tomb of Elisha, and went away. And when the man touched the bones of Elisha, he came to life and stood up on his feet.
22
Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.
23
But the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion on them, and he turned toward them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So he was not willing to destroy them, and he had not cast them from his presence until now.
24
Then Hazael king of Aram died, and Ben-hadad his son became king in his place.
25
Jehoash son of Jehoahaz recovered from the hand of Ben-hadad son of Hazael the cities that Ben-hadad had taken in war from Jehoahaz his father. Three times Jehoash defeated him and recovered the cities of Israel.
🗡️⚰️🔥 Summary of 2 Kings 13 – The Kings of Israel, Elisha’s Death, and the Final Miracle
2 Kings 13 records the continuing history of the kingdom of Israel under two kings: Jehoahaz and Jehoash, amid a dark spiritual condition. As the people turned away from God, the prophet Elisha—old and near death—remained a sign of hope and of God’s power. Even after his death, God showed that His power is not limited by time, through the miracle of life restored by Elisha’s bones.
📌 1. The Reign of Jehoahaz and Israel’s Suffering (verses 1–9)
➡️ Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, became king over Israel and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord
➡️ He continued in the sin of Jeroboam (the worship of the golden calves)
➡️ The Lord was angry and allowed Israel to be oppressed by Hazael and Ben-hadad, king of Aram
➡️ Yet Jehoahaz cried out to the Lord, and the Lord granted deliverance even though the nation still did not repent
➡️ Israel’s remaining army was very small — only 10 chariots, 50 horsemen, and 10,000 troops
🎯 The Lord is patient, but an unrepentant nation will continue to suffer.
📌 2. Jehoash the Son of Jehoahaz Becomes King (verses 10–13)
➡️ After Jehoahaz died, his son Jehoash ascended the throne
➡️ He also lived wickedly and followed the way of Jeroboam
➡️ No spiritual reform took place during his reign
🎯 When generation after generation does not repent, spiritual decline becomes systemic.
📌 3. Jehoash Visits the Sick Prophet Elisha (verses 14–19)
➡️ Elisha was gravely ill, and Jehoash came weeping: “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!”
➡️ Elisha told Jehoash to shoot an arrow — a sign of victory over Aram
➡️ Elisha then told Jehoash to strike the ground with the arrows — Jehoash struck only 3 times
➡️ Elisha was angry because Jehoash should have struck 5–6 times for complete victory
🎯 Half-hearted obedience limits God’s blessing.
📌 4. The Miracle After Elisha’s Death (verses 20–21)
➡️ After Elisha died and was buried, an extraordinary event took place
➡️ The body of a man that was thrown into Elisha’s grave came back to life when it touched his bones
🎯 God’s power is not limited by human life or death — His word continues to work even after His servant is gone.
📌 5. The Lord Gives Grace Even Though Israel Is Unfaithful (verses 22–25)
➡️ Hazael continued to oppress Israel
➡️ But the Lord had compassion and did not destroy them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
➡️ Joash recovered the cities taken by Aram, fighting three times and winning
🎯 The Lord is faithful to His promise even though His people are unfaithful.
📖 Main Teaching
- False worship continues to bring suffering, even though there is mercy from the Lord
- The Lord answers the prayers of those who cry out, but He desires true repentance
- Half-hearted obedience limits the potential for victory in life
- The power of God goes beyond death and does not depend on man
- The Lord’s promise is not canceled by the failures of His people
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
📖 Romans 6:4
“Just as Christ was raised… so we too will live in newness of life.”
➡️ The miracle of resurrection from Elisha’s bones is a shadow of the power of resurrection fulfilled in Christ.
📖 2 Timothy 2:13
“If we are faithless, He remains faithful.”
➡️ The Lord still helped Israel because of His promise, not because of their goodness.
📖 James 1:6
“Let him ask in faith, without doubting.”
➡️ Joash hesitated to strike the ground — and half-hearted faith produced limited blessing.
📖 Hebrews 11:4
“By faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.”
➡️ Like Elisha, who “spoke” through a miracle even after death — God still uses the lives of the righteous after their death.
🕊️ “The LORD saw Israel’s distress… and listened to them.” – 2 Kings 13:4
🕊️ “The arrow of victory from the LORD, the arrow of victory against Aram!” – 2 Kings 13:17
🕊️ “Elisha died and was buried… and the man came back to life.” – 2 Kings 13:20–21
🕊️ “The LORD had compassion on them and showed them favor because of his covenant.” – 2 Kings 13:23
