Old Testament · History

2 Kings chapter 13

In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, son of Jehu became king over Israel in . He ruled for seventeen years.He did what was in Yahweh’s eyes and followed the same of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had led Israel into . He never turned away from them.So Yahweh’s against Israel, and he to king of and to Ben-Hadad son of Hazael for a long time.Then Jehoahaz , and Yahweh listened to him because he saw how severely the king of Aram was Israel.Yahweh gave Israel a , and they broke free from Aram’s control. After that, the Israelites again, just like before.But they still didn’t turn away from the that the house of Jeroboam had led Israel into. They kept right on with them. The also remained standing in Samaria.Jehoahaz was left with almost no army at all—just fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers. The king of Aram had destroyed the rest and ground them down like dust on a .As for the rest of what Jehoahaz did—everything he accomplished and his military exploits—they’re written in the of the kings of Israel.Jehoahaz and was buried in Samaria. His son became king after him.In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria. He ruled for sixteen years.He did what was evil in Yahweh’s eyes. He didn’t turn away from any of the failures of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had led Israel into corruption. He kept right on with them.As for the rest of what Jehoash did—everything he accomplished and his military exploits, including his war against king of Judah—they’re written in the official records of the kings of Israel.Jehoash rested with his ancestors, and sat on his throne. Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.Now Elisha had become sick with the illness that would eventually kill him. Jehoash king of Israel went down to visit him, and he wept over him, crying out, “ !”Elisha told him, “Get a bow and some arrows.” So he got a bow and arrows.Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” When he put his hand on it, Elisha .Elisha said, “Open the east window.” He opened it, and Elisha said, “Shoot!” He shot. Then Elisha declared, “Yahweh’s ! The arrow of victory over Aram! You will completely defeat the Arameans at .”Then Elisha said, “Take the arrows.” He took them, and Elisha told the king of Israel, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped.The was with him. “You should have struck five or six times!” he said. “Then you would have completely destroyed Aram. But now you will only defeat them three times.”Elisha died and was buried. Now used to invade the land .One time, some people were burying a man when they spotted a raiding party coming. They threw the body into Elisha’s tomb. The moment the man’s body touched , he and stood up on his feet.Now Hazael king of Aram had Israel throughout the entire reign of Jehoahaz.But Yahweh was to them. He had on them and turned toward them because of his with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He was not willing to destroy them, and he has not —even to this day.When Hazael king of Aram died, his son became king after him.Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz took back from Ben-Hadad son of Hazael the towns that Hazael had captured in war from his father Jehoahaz. Jehoash and the Israelite towns.