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2 Kings 13

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2 Kings 13 Overview

Jehoahaz reigns over Israel and continues Jeroboam’s sins, so Syria oppresses Israel. He seeks the LORD, and God gives relief, though false worship remains. His son Jehoash succeeds him. Elisha becomes terminally ill; Jehoash visits him weeping. Elisha has him shoot an arrow eastward and strike the ground. Because the king stops after three strikes, Elisha says his victories over Syria will be limited to three. Elisha dies. Later a dead man thrown into Elisha’s grave revives when his body touches Elisha’s bones. Israel then recovers cities from Syria three times.

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Before you read 2 Kings 13

Coming from

Chapter 12 focused on Joash of Judah; the narrative now returns north under continued Syrian pressure.

In this chapter

Israel receives partial deliverance despite persistent idolatry, and Elisha’s long ministry reaches its end.

Leads into

Chapter 14 moves to Amaziah of Judah and Jehoash/Jeroboam II of Israel.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Jehoahaz’s appeal brings temporal national relief without full religious reform. Elisha’s arrows are prophetic signs, not superstition. The revival at the grave confirms God’s extraordinary power associated with Elisha’s ministry, but the bones are not presented as relics to venerate or a normal healing method.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Truth 1

God hears Jehoahaz even while the chapter records continuing idolatry.

Truth 2

Elisha remains concerned for Israel at the point of death.

Truth 3

Jehoash’s limited response results in limited victories.

Truth 4

The grave miracle testifies to God’s power, not independent magic in human remains.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Connection 1

First Kings 19 began Elisha’s calling.

Connection 2

Second Kings 8-10 traced Hazael and Syrian pressure now beginning to reverse.

Connection 3

The three victories match Elisha’s final prediction.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep this clear 1

Do not build relic theology from Elisha’s bones.

Keep this clear 2

Jehoahaz’s national deliverance is not a full explanation of individual eternal salvation.

Keep this clear 3

Do not copy the arrow sign as a technique for controlling future outcomes.

Read 2 Kings 13 watching for…

The continuing Syrian oppression.

What changes after Jehoahaz seeks the LORD.

Jehoash’s grief over Elisha.

The two arrow actions.

Why Elisha becomes angry.

The circumstances of the grave miracle.

Chapter outline5 sections

1-9Jehoahaz reigns, Israel is oppressed by Syria, and the LORD gives relief 10-13Jehoash reigns in Israel and continues Jeroboam’s sins 14-19Dying Elisha tells Jehoash to strike the ground and rebukes his limited response 20-21Elisha dies, and a dead man revives when he touches Elisha’s bones 22-25Jehoash defeats Syria three times and recovers cities

In the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah king of Judah Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years.

And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, all their days.

And Jehoahaz besought the LORD, and the LORD hearkened unto him: for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them.

(And the LORD gave Israel a saviour, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians: and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents, as beforetime.

Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked therein: and there remained the grove also in Samaria.)

Neither did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like the dust by threshing.

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 of the kings of Israel?

And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his stead.

In the thirty and seventh year of Joash king of Judah began Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned sixteen years.

And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD; he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin: but he walked therein.

And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might wherewith he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.

And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows.

And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands.

And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the LORD's deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them.

And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed.

And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.

And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.

And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.

But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.

And the LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet.

So Hazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in his stead.

And 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. Three times did Joash beat him, and recovered the cities of Israel.

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2 Kings 13:2

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