13
1 In
the twenty-third
year of Joash
the son of
Ahaziah, king of
Judah, Jehoahaz
the son of
Jehu began to
reign over Israel
in Samaria for
seventeen years.
2 He
did that which
was evil in
the LORD’s sight,
and followed the
sins of Jeroboam
the son of
Nebat, with which
he made Israel
to sin. He didn’t
depart from it.
3 The
LORD’s anger burned
against Israel,
and he delivered
them into the
hand of Hazael
king of Syria, and
into the hand
of Benhadad the
son of Hazael,
continually.
4 Jehoahaz begged the
LORD, and the
LORD listened to
him; for he
saw the oppression
of Israel, how
the king of Syria
oppressed them.
5 (The
LORD gave Israel
a savior, so
that they went
out from under
the hand of
the Syrians; and
the children of
Israel lived in
their tents as
before.
6 Nevertheless
they didn’t depart
from the sins
of the house
of Jeroboam, with
which he made
Israel to sin,
but walked in
them; and
the Asherah also
remained in
Samaria.)
7 For
he didn’t leave to
Jehoahaz of the
people any more
than fifty
horsemen, and ten
chariots, and
ten thousand footmen;
for the king
of Syria destroyed them
and made them
like the dust
in threshing.
8 Now
the rest of
the acts of
Jehoahaz, and all
that he did,
and his might,
aren’t they written
in the book
of the chronicles
of the kings
of Israel?
9 Jehoahaz
slept with
his fathers; and
they buried him
in Samaria; and
Joash his son
reigned in his
place.
10 In
the thirty-seventh
year of Joash
king of Judah,
Jehoash the son
of Jehoahaz began
to reign over
Israel in Samaria
for sixteen years.
11 He
did that which
was evil in
the LORD’s sight.
He didn’t depart
from all the
sins of Jeroboam
the son of
Nebat, with which
he made Israel
to sin; but
he walked in
them.
12 Now
the rest of
the acts of
Joash, and all
that he did,
and his might
with which he
fought against Amaziah
king of Judah,
aren’t they written
in the book
of the chronicles
of the kings
of Israel?
13 Joash
slept with
his fathers; and
Jeroboam sat on
his throne. Joash
was buried in
Samaria with the
kings of Israel.
14 Now Elisha
became sick with
the illness of
which he died;
and Joash the
king of Israel
came down to
him, and wept
over him, and said,
“My father, my father,
the chariots of
Israel and its
horsemen!”
15 Elisha said
to him, “Take
bow and arrows;”
and he took
bow and arrows
for himself.
16 He said
to the king
of Israel, “Put
your hand on
the bow;” and
he put his
hand on it. Elisha
laid his hands
on the king’s
hands.
17 He said, “Open
the window
eastward;” and he
opened it. Then
Elisha said, “Shoot!”
and he shot.
He said, “The
LORD’s arrow of
victory, even the
arrow of victory
over Syria; for
you will strike
the Syrians in Aphek
until you have
consumed them.”
18 He said, “Take
the arrows;” and
he took them.
He said to the
king of Israel, “Strike
the ground;” and
he struck three
times, and stopped.
19 The man
of God was angry
with him, and said,
“You should have
struck five or
six times. Then
you would have
struck Syria until
you had consumed
it, but now
you will
strike Syria just
three times.”
20 Elisha died,
and they buried
him.
Now the bands of
the Moabites invaded
the land at
the coming in of
the year.
21 As
they were burying
a man, behold,
they saw a
band of raiders;
and they threw
the man into
Elisha’s tomb.
As soon as the
man touched
Elisha’s bones, he
revived, and stood
up on his
feet.
22 Hazael
king of Syria
oppressed Israel
all the days
of Jehoahaz.
23 But
the LORD was
gracious to them,
and had compassion
on them,
and favored them
because of his
covenant with Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob,
and would not
destroy them and
he didn’t cast
them from his
presence as yet.
24 Hazael
king of Syria died;
and Benhadad his
son reigned in
his place.
25 Jehoash
the son of
Jehoahaz took
again out of
the hand
of Benhadad the
son of Hazael
the cities which
he had taken
out of the
hand of Jehoahaz
his father by
war. Joash struck
him three times,
and recovered the
cities of Israel.