History · Chapter 13 of 25

2 Kings 13

In Israel, Jehoahaz reigns wickedly and the nation is crushed by Syria, yet when he pleads the LORD sends a deliverer out of compassion. His son Jehoash also does evil. The dying prophet Elisha gives Jehoash a prophecy of victory through arrows, rebuking his half-hearted response. After Elisha's death, a dead man revives on touching his bones. God spares Israel for the sake of his covenant with the patriarchs.

What happens in 2 Kings 13

Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, reigns over Israel and follows Jeroboam's sins; God hands the nation to Syria until only a token army remains. When Jehoahaz beseeches the LORD, God, seeing their oppression, sends a savior so Israel escapes Syria's grip, yet they cling to their idols. His son Jehoash likewise does evil. As Elisha lies dying, Jehoash weeps over him. The prophet has him shoot an arrow eastward, declaring it the arrow of the LORD's deliverance from Syria, then tells him to strike the ground; when the king strikes only three times, Elisha is angry, for he might have destroyed Syria completely.

Elisha dies and is buried. Later, a corpse hastily thrown into Elisha's tomb touches his bones and the man revives. God, remembering his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has compassion on Israel, and Jehoash recovers cities from Syria three times.

2 Kings 13 in context

This chapter tracks the northern kingdom in a spiral of idolatry and oppression, the dynasty of Jehu continuing but not repenting. Syria under Hazael and Benhadad is the dominant regional threat. Elisha, whose ministry has spanned decades since Elijah, finally dies, but his final scene and even his grave testify that God's power and mercy outlast the prophet's life.

The repeated note of God's compassion, rooted in the ancient promises to the patriarchs, is the theological heart of the chapter.

Main themes of 2 Kings 13

2 Kings 13 (KJV)

1In 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. 2And 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. 3And 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. 4And Jehoahaz besought the LORD, and the LORD hearkened unto him: for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them. 5(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. 6Nevertheless 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.) 7Neither 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. 8Now 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? 9And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his stead. 10In 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. 11And 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. 12And 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? 13And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. 14Now 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. 15And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows. 16And 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. 17And 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. 18And 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. 19And 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. 20And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. 21And 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. 22But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. 23And 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. 24So Hazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in his stead. 25And 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.

Verses to carry from 2 Kings 13

“(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.”2 Kings 13:5

“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.”2 Kings 13:21

“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.”2 Kings 13:23

Reflection

God offered Israel complete deliverance, but Jehoash's half-hearted striking capped what he received. Consider where you may be approaching God's promises timidly, striking the ground three times and stopping.

Persistent, believing engagement with God is not presumption; it honors the generosity of the One who invites you to ask, seek, and keep knocking.

A prayer from 2 Kings 13