# 2 Kings 13 đź“–: Elisha's Final Prophecy and Death
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### Jehoahaz’s Reign over Israel
[[#Verse 01.]] In the twenty-third year of the reign of Judah’s King Joash son of Ahaziah, Jehu’s son Jehoahaz became king over Israel. He reigned in Samaria for seventeen years.Â
[[#Verse 02.]] He did evil in the sight of the Lord. He continued in the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat who had encouraged Israel to sin; he did not repudiate those sins.Â
[[#Verse 03.]] The Lord was furious with Israel and handed them over to King Hazael of Syria and to Hazael’s son Ben Hadad for many years.
[[#Verse 04.]] Jehoahaz asked for the Lord’s mercy, and the Lord responded favorably, for he saw that Israel was oppressed by the king of Syria.Â
[[#Verse 05.]] The Lord provided a deliverer for Israel, and they were freed from Syria’s power. The Israelites once more lived in security.Â
[[#Verse 06.]] But they did not repudiate the sinful ways of the family of Jeroboam, who encouraged Israel to sin; they continued in those sins. There was even an Asherah pole standing in Samaria.
[[#Verse 07.]] Jehoahaz had no army left except for 50 horsemen, 10 chariots, and 10,000 foot soldiers. The king of Syria had destroyed his troops and trampled on them as dust.
[[#Verse 08.]] The rest of the events of Jehoahaz’s reign, including all his accomplishments and successes, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.Â
[[#Verse 09.]] Jehoahaz passed away and was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoash replaced him as king.
### Jehoash’s Reign over Israel
[[#Verse 10.]] In the thirty-seventh year of King Jehoash’s reign over Judah, Jehoahaz’s son Jehoash became king over Israel. He reigned in Samaria for sixteen years.Â
[[#Verse 11.]] He did evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not repudiate the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat who encouraged Israel to sin; he continued in those sins.Â
[[#Verse 12.]] The rest of the events of Jehoash’s reign, including all his accomplishments and his successful war with King Amaziah of Judah, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.Â
[[#Verse 13.]] Jehoash passed away and Jeroboam succeeded him on the throne. Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
### Elisha Makes One Final Prophecy
[[#Verse 14.]] Now Elisha had a terminal illness. King Jehoash of Israel went down to visit him. He wept before him and said, “My father, my father! The chariot and horsemen of Israel!”Â
[[#Verse 15.]] Elisha told him, “Take a bow and some arrows,” and he did so.Â
[[#Verse 16.]] Then Elisha told the king of Israel, “Aim the bow.” He did so, and Elisha placed his hands on the king’s hands.Â
[[#Verse 17.]] Elisha said, “Open the east window,” and he did so. Elisha said, “Shoot!” and he did so. Elisha said, “This arrow symbolizes the victory the Lord will give you over Syria. You will annihilate Syria in Aphek!”Â
[[#Verse 18.]] Then Elisha said, “Take the arrows,” and he did so. He told the king of Israel, “Strike the ground!” He struck the ground three times and stopped.Â
[[#Verse 19.]] The prophet got angry at him and said, “If you had struck the ground five or six times, you would have annihilated Syria! But now, you will defeat Syria only three times.”
[[#Verse 20.]] Elisha died and was buried. Moabite raiding parties invaded the land at the beginning of the year.Â
[[#Verse 21.]] One day some men were burying a man when they spotted a raiding party. So they threw the dead man into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the dead man came to life and stood on his feet.
[[#Verse 22.]] Now King Hazael of Syria oppressed Israel throughout Jehoahaz’s reign.Â
[[#Verse 23.]] But the Lord had mercy on them and felt pity for them. He extended his favor to them because of the promise he had made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He has been unwilling to destroy them or remove them from his presence to this very day.Â
[[#Verse 24.]]Â When King Hazael of Syria died, his son Ben Hadad replaced him as king.Â
[[#Verse 25.]] Jehoahaz’s son Jehoash took back from Ben Hadad son of Hazael the cities that he had taken from his father Jehoahaz in war. Jehoash defeated him three times and recovered the Israelite cities.
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
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## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Jehoahaz sought the Lord and the Lord listened (13:4), similar to the cycle of sin and deliverance in Judges.
2. The unnamed "deliverer" (13:5) has been identified by some with the Assyrian king Adad-nirari III, whose campaigns weakened Damascus. Others think of later Israelite kings. Scholars debate it.
3. Israel's army was reduced to fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers (13:7). An Assyrian inscription credits Ahab with two thousand chariots only a few decades earlier.
4. An Asherah pole remained standing in Samaria (13:6).
5. Joash wept over Elisha with the same words Elisha had spoken over Elijah (13:14; 2:12).
6. Elisha told Joash to shoot an arrow eastward and promised victory over Aram at Aphek (13:17), where Ahab had once defeated Aram (1 Kings 20:26-30).
7. Elisha's ministry stretched across the reigns of several kings of Israel and likely lasted more than fifty years.
8. Moabite raiders came into the land each spring (13:20).
9. The dead man revived at Elisha's grave (13:21) is the only miracle in the Bible that happens through a prophet's bones after his death.
10. Joash defeated Ben-Hadad three times (13:25), exactly as many times as he struck the ground.
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the source of resurrection life. A dead man came back to life when he touched Elisha's bones (13:21), but Jesus Himself rose from the dead and gives eternal life to all who believe in Him (John 11:25-26).
## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. When Jehoahaz sought the Lord, the Lord listened even though Israel kept sinning (13:4-6). What does this show about God's patience and mercy?
2. Joash struck the ground only three times and limited his victory (13:18-19). Where might you be settling for less than God wants to do?
3. God was gracious to Israel because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (13:23). How does God's faithfulness to His promises give you hope?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verse 4: Jehoahaz seeks the Lord, and the Lord listens.
- đź“– verses 18-19: Joash strikes the ground only three times, limiting his victories.
- đź“– verse 21: A dead man comes to life when he touches Elisha's bones.
## đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đź”— [[John 11#Verse 25.|John 11:25-26]] - Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
- đź”— [[2 Kings 02#Verse 12.|2 Kings 2:12]] - Elisha cries out as Elijah is taken up.
- đź”— [[Ephesians 03#Verse 20.|Ephesians 3:20]] - God is able to do far more than we ask.
- đź”— [[Matthew 27#Verse 52.|Matthew 27:52-53]] - Bodies of the saints were raised at Jesus' death.
- đź”— [[Genesis 17#Verse 07.|Genesis 17:7]] - God's everlasting covenant with Abraham.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
đź“ť SOAP: [[2 Kings 13 - SOAP|Eternal Promises]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes