2 Kings, Chapter 13:

Verses from 2 Kings, Chapter 13 of the book of 2 Kings of the Bible.

2 Kings - Old Testament — 2 Kings – Old Testament

Jehoahaz is king of Israel

1. In the twenty-third year of the reign of Joash son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel in Samaria and reigned seventeen years.
2. However, he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, following the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit, and he did not turn from them.
3. As a result, the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and for a long time they were oppressed by Hazael king of Syria and his son Benhadad.
4. Faced with this situation, Jehoahaz sought favor from the Lord, and the Lord listened to him, as he saw the oppression that the king of Syria inflicted on Israel.
5. Then the Lord gave Israel a deliverer, and they were rescued from the power of Syria. Thus, the Israelites were able to return to living in their homes as before.
6. However, they did not abandon the sins that Jeroboam's dynasty had led Israel to commit. The Asherah pole was still in Samaria.
7. Of Jehoahaz's army, only fifty horsemen, ten chariots and ten thousand foot soldiers remained. The king of Syria had reduced Israel's army, destroying most of them and leaving only a small remnant.
8. The other events of Jehoahaz's reign, as well as all his actions, are recorded in the annals of the kings of Israel.
9. Jehoahaz rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoash was his successor on the throne.

Jehoash is king of Israel

10. In the thirty-seventh year of the reign of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king of Israel in Samaria and reigned sixteen years.
11. Like his predecessors, Jehoash continued to do evil in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam, son of Nebat, had led Israel to commit. He persisted in following these sins.
12. The other events of Jehoash's reign, his actions and achievements, including his war against Amaziah, king of Judah, are recorded in the annals of the kings of Israel.
13. Jehoash rested with his ancestors, and Jeroboam took the throne in his place. Jehoash was buried with the kings of Israel in Samaria.

Elisha's death

14. At that time, Elisha was sick, on the verge of death. Jehoash, king of Israel, came to visit him and, bending over him, wept, exclaiming: “My father, my father! You are like the chariots and horsemen of Israel!”
15. Elisha ordered Jehoash, “Take a bow and some arrows.” Jehoash did as he was asked.
16. Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Take the bow in your hands.” When Jehoash took the bow, Elisha placed his hands on the king's hands.
17. And he said to him, “Open the window toward the east.” Jehoash opened the window, and Elisha said to him, “Shoot!” Jehoash shot, and Elisha declared: “This is the arrow of victory of the Lord, the arrow of victory over Syria! You will completely defeat the Arameans in Aphek.”
18. Then Elisha ordered the king to take the arrows and strike the ground. Jehoash hit the ground three times and stopped.
19. The man of God was indignant at him and said, “You should have hit the ground five or six times; thus, it would completely defeat Syria and destroy it. But now you will only defeat her three times.”
20. After this, Elisha died and was buried. During the spring, Moabite troops used to invade the country.
21. One day, while some Israelites were burying a man, they saw a Moabite troop approaching. Then they threw the man's body into Elisha's tomb, and as soon as the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came to life and stood up.
22. Hazael, king of Syria, oppressed the Israelites throughout the reign of Jehoahaz.
23. But the Lord was merciful to them, had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To this day, he has not wanted to destroy them nor has he rejected them from his presence.
24. And when Hazael king of Syria died, his son Benhadad succeeded him as king.
25. Then Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz, regained from the hands of Benhadad, the son of Hazael, the cities that he had taken from his father Jehoahaz in battle. Jehoash defeated Ben-hadad three times and thus recovered the cities of Israel.