The big picture
Israel, the northern kingdom, is losing ground to Syria, its neighbour. Jehoahaz, Israel's king, keeps the false worship of earlier rulers but asks God for help. His son Joash, also called Jehoash here, follows him as king. Elisha, the prophet who speaks for God, is nearing death. Yet God still shows mercy to the people. Rescue, a strange sign at a grave, and victories follow alongside the kings' failure to turn from sin.
In this chapter
- Jehoahaz Asks God for Help 2 Kings 13:1-9
Jehoahaz rules Israel for seventeen years and continues Jeroboam's sins, the false worship begun by an earlier king.
- Another King Keeps the Same Sins 2 Kings 13:10-13
Jehoash begins a sixteen-year reign in Samaria.
- Arrows Mark the Limits of Victory 2 Kings 13:14-19
Joash visits the dying Elisha and weeps, calling him Israel's strength in war.
- A Dead Man Returns to Life 2 Kings 13:20-21
Elisha dies and is buried.
- Three Victories Recover Lost Towns 2 Kings 13:22-25
Syria's pressure had lasted through Jehoahaz's reign.
Central truth
God helps Israel because of his earlier promise, though its rulers keep false worship and receive only limited victory.
Scripture beside the summary
2 Kings · King James Version · 252 Kings 13:1-9
Jehoahaz Asks God for Help
Jehoahaz rules Israel for seventeen years and continues Jeroboam's sins, the false worship begun by an earlier king. God lets Syria oppress the land. Jehoahaz calls for help, and God hears because he sees the people's suffering. A rescuer frees them to live as before, but their worship does not change. A sacred grove remains in their capital, Samaria. Syria has reduced their army to a small force. The king dies and is buried, leaving his son Joash to rule.
In everyday life
A debt adviser meets a shop owner whose creditors have seized most of his stock. She arranges relief that keeps his doors open. He welcomes the help but keeps the reckless spending that harmed the shop. Relief has not changed his habits. Israel's rescue comes from God's mercy, rather than a negotiated debt plan.
Notice
2 Kings 13:4 God hears the king because he sees Israel's oppression. The help is not described as a reward for the king having abandoned false worship.
2 Kings 13:1-9
King James Version1In the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah king of Judah Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years.
2And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.
3And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael, all their days.
4And Jehoahaz besought the LORD, and the LORD hearkened unto him: for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them.
5(And the LORD gave Israel a saviour, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians: and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents, as beforetime.
6Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked therein: and there remained the grove also in Samaria.)
7Neither did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like the dust by 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 reigned in his stead.
2 Kings 13:10-13
Another King Keeps the Same Sins
Jehoash begins a sixteen-year reign in Samaria. The account also calls him Joash, so the two names here refer to one ruler. He follows the sins of Jeroboam instead of removing them. His strength and war against Amaziah, the king of Judah, are noted without being described yet. After his death, his son Jeroboam takes the throne. This brief record gives a judgement on his reign before returning to events within it. Military power does not count as faithful worship.
In everyday life
The club secretary enters a new captain's name on the honours board, then reads the conduct record beside it. The captain wins matches but keeps the unfair selection rule used by his predecessor. The trophies and the rule both remain on record. Kings is judging loyalty to God, not a club's choice of players.
Notice
2 Kings 13:11 Jehoash is measured against the sins he keeps, not only the wars he fights. His inherited pattern of worship remains part of his own responsibility.
2 Kings 13:10-13
King James Version10In the thirty and seventh year of Joash king of Judah began Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned sixteen years.
11And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD; he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin: but he walked therein.
12And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might wherewith he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
13And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
2 Kings 13:14-19
Arrows Mark the Limits of Victory
Joash visits the dying Elisha and weeps, calling him Israel's strength in war. Elisha tells him to take a bow. With the prophet's hands on his own, he shoots eastward from a window. Elisha calls it God's sign of victory over Syria. The king then strikes the ground three times with arrows and stops. Elisha is angry: five or six blows would have meant complete victory. Now there will be only three. The king receives a promise, but its extent is limited.
In everyday life
An apprentice boatbuilder begins driving pegs as his retiring master directs. He stops after three, assuming the job is done, and the master points to the work still needed. His early pause has consequences he did not expect. Elisha's arrows announce victories given by God; the pegs only fasten wood.
Notice
2 Kings 13:18 The king stops after three blows without a number being specified beforehand. Elisha's response gives that stopping point a consequence for the coming war.
2 Kings 13:14-19
King James Version14Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.
15And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows.
16And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king’s hands.
17And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the LORD’s deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them.
18And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed.
19And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.
2 Kings 13:20-21
A Dead Man Returns to Life
Elisha dies and is buried. Later, raiders from Moab, a neighbouring people, enter the land. Men burying someone see a band approaching and hurriedly place the body in Elisha's grave. When it touches the prophet's bones, the dead man comes alive and stands up. The account offers no speech, prayer or human plan behind this event. Elisha is dead, yet life returns beside his remains. The brief report presents a wonder that the frightened burial party neither expects nor controls.
In everyday life
A cemetery attendant pauses beside an old grave while mourners speak about a teacher whose help still shapes their lives. The teacher's death has not ended every effect of his work. Their words make the loss and the lasting influence stand together. No lasting influence explains the dead man's bodily return to life in Elisha's grave.
Notice
2 Kings 13:21 The burial party acts because raiders are near, not because it seeks a miracle. The return to life interrupts a hurried act of fear.
2 Kings 13:20-21
King James Version20And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.
21And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.
2 Kings 13:22-25
Three Victories Recover Lost Towns
Syria's pressure had lasted through Jehoahaz's reign. God nevertheless shows care for Israel because of his covenant, a binding promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, its ancestors. He does not yet destroy the people or cast them away. Hazael, Syria's king, dies, and his son Ben-hadad succeeds him. Jehoash defeats this new king three times and takes back towns lost under his father. These wins match Elisha's limited promise. Mercy brings real recovery without making Israel's wrongs disappear.
In everyday life
The estate trustee uses an old promise to release funds for a struggling grandson's lost workshop. Three work bays reopen, though the whole property is not restored. The help rests on a pledge made before the present crisis. God remembers his own covenant and grants military victories, not money held under a trust.
Notice
2 Kings 13:25 The number of victories is three, matching Elisha's earlier words. The recovered towns show that his promise takes effect within the stated limit.
2 Kings 13:22-25
King James Version22But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.
23And the LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet.
24So Hazael king of Syria died; and Ben-hadad his son reigned in his stead.
25And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael the cities, which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times did Joash beat him, and recovered the cities of Israel.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
2 Kings 13:1 begins with “In the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah king of Judah Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned…”
Where the chapter turns
2 Kings 13:12 forms a natural hinge: “And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might wherewith he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book…”
The final note
2 Kings 13:25 leaves the reader with “And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael the cities, which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Israel, king, Jehoahaz, Joash, Syria, Elisha help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thou
- you
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
