8 Now 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 e of the Kings of Israel ? 9 And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers , and they buried him in Samaria ; and Joash his son became king in his place .
10 In the thirty-seventh e year of Joash king of Judah , Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria , and reigned sixteen e years . 11 He did evil in the sight of the Lord ; he did not turn away from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat , with which he made Israel 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 , are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles e of the Kings of Israel ? 13 So Joash slept with his fathers , and Jeroboam sat on his throne ; and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel .
14 When Elisha became sick with the illness of which he was to die , 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 a bow and arrows ." So he took a bow and arrows . 16 Then he said to the king of Israel , "Put your hand on the bow ." And he put his hand on it, then Elisha laid his hands on the king's hands . 17 He said , "Open the window toward the east ," and he opened it. Then Elisha said , "Shoot !" And he shot . And he said , "The Lord'S arrow of victory , even the arrow of victory over Aram ; for you will defeat the Arameans at Aphek until you have destroyed them." 18 Then he said , "Take the arrows ," and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel , "Strike the ground ," and he struck it three times and stopped . 19 So the man of God was angry with him and said , "You should have struck five or six times , then you would have struck Aram until you would have destroyed it. But now you shall strike Aram only three times ."
20 Elisha died , and they buried him. Now the bands of the Moabites would invade the land in the spring of the year . 21 As they were burying a man , behold , they saw a marauding band ; and they cast the man into the grave of Elisha . And when the man touched the bones of Elisha he revived and stood up on his feet . 22 Now Hazael king of Aram had oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz . 23 But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion on them and turned to them because of His covenant with Abraham , Isaac , and Jacob , and would not destroy them or cast them from His presence until now . 24 When Hazael king of Aram died , Ben-hadad his son became king in his place . 25 Then Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again from the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael the cities which he had taken in war from the hand of Jehoahaz his father . Three times Joash defeated him and recovered the cities of Israel .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Kings 13:8-25
Commentary on 2 Kings 13:1-9
(Read 2 Kings 13:1-9)
It was the ancient honour of Israel that they were a praying people. Jehoahaz, their king, in his distress, besought the Lord; applied himself for help, but not to the calves; what help could they give him? He sought the Lord. See how swift God is to show mercy; how ready to hear prayer; how willing to find a reason to be gracious; else he would not look so far back as the ancient covenant Israel had so often broken, and forfeited. Let this invite and engage us for ever to him; and encourage even those who have forsaken him, to return and repent; for there is forgiveness with him, that he may be feared. And if the Lord answer the mere cry of distress for temporal relief, much more will he regard the prayer of faith for spiritual blessings.
Commentary on 2 Kings 13:10-19
(Read 2 Kings 13:10-19)
Jehoash, the king, came to Elisha, to receive his dying counsel and blessing. It may turn much to our spiritual advantage, to attend the sick-beds and death-beds of good men, that we may be encouraged in religion by the living comforts they have from it in a dying hour. Elisha assured the king of his success; yet he must look up to God for direction and strength; must reckon his own hands not enough, but go on, in dependence upon Divine aid. The trembling hands of the dying prophet, as they signified the power of God, gave this arrow more force than the hands of the king in his full strength. By contemning the sign, the king lost the thing signified, to the grief of the dying prophet. It is a trouble to good men, to see those to whom they wish well, forsake their own mercies, and to see them lose advantages against spiritual enemies.
Commentary on 2 Kings 13:20-25
(Read 2 Kings 13:20-25)
God has many ways to chastise a provoking people. Trouble comes sometimes from that point whence we least feared it. The mention of this invasion on the death of Elisha, shows that the removal of God's faithful prophets is a presage of coming judgments. His dead body was a means of giving life to another dead body. This miracle was a confirmation of his prophecies. And it may have reference to Christ, by whose death and burial, the grave is made a safe and happy passage to life to all believers. Jehoash was successful against the Syrians, just as often as he had struck the ground with the arrows, then a stop was put to his victories. Many have repented, when too late, of distrusts and the straitness of their desires.