2 Kings 13

1In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years.

2He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh and followed the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them.

3So the anger of Yahweh burned against Israel, and for all that time he handed them over to Hazael king of Aram and to Ben-hadad son of Hazael.

4Then Jehoahaz pleaded with Yahweh, and Yahweh listened to him, for he saw how the king of Aram was oppressing Israel.

5So Yahweh gave Israel a deliverer, and they escaped from the power of Aram. The people of Israel lived in their homes as they had before.

6But they did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit; they continued in them. The Asherah pole also remained standing in Samaria.

7For the king of Aram had left Jehoahaz an army of no more than fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers, because he had destroyed the rest and made them like dust at threshing time.

8As for the rest of the deeds of Jehoahaz, all that he did and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

9Jehoahaz rested with his ancestors, and they buried him in Samaria. His son Joash became king in his place.

10In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned sixteen years.

11He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh. He did not turn away from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit; he continued in them.

12As for the rest of the deeds of Joash, all that he did and the might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

13Joash rested with his ancestors, and Jeroboam took his seat on his throne. Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

14Now Elisha had fallen sick with the illness from which he was to die. Joash king of Israel went down to him and wept over him, saying, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!”

15Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and some arrows.” So he took a bow and some arrows.

16Then he said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” When he had put his hand on it, Elisha laid his hands on the king’s hands.

17He said, “Open the east window.” So he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot!” And he shot. Elisha said, “Yahweh’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram! You will strike down the Arameans at Aphek until you have made an end of them.”

18Then he said, “Take the arrows.” So he took them. He said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped.

19The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Aram until you had made an end of it. But now you will strike down Aram only three times.”

20Then Elisha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabite raiders used to come into the land every spring.

21Once, as some people were burying a man, they suddenly saw a band of raiders, so they threw the man into Elisha’s tomb. When the body went down and touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet.

22Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz.

23But Yahweh was gracious to them and had compassion on them. He turned toward them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He was not willing to destroy them, and until now he has not cast them out of his presence.

24When Hazael king of Aram died, Ben-hadad his son became king in his place.

25Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz took back from Ben-hadad son of Hazael the cities that Ben-hadad had taken in war from his father Jehoahaz. Three times Joash defeated him, and he recovered the cities of Israel.