The Second Book of the Kings, commonly called the Fourth Book of the Kings
2 Kings 13
Chapter XIII · Vol. II, pp. 784–785
1 Jehoahaz's wicked reign. 3 Jehoahaz, oppressed by Hazael, is relieved by prayer. 8 Joash succeedeth him. 10 His wicked reign. 12 Jeroboam succeedeth him. 14 Elisha dying prophesieth to Joash three victories over the Syrians. 20 The Moabites invading the land, Elisha's bones raise up a dead man. 22 Hazael dying, Joash getteth three victories over Benhadad.
1 In thea 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.1
a ch.8.26; 10.36; 11.21; ver.10.
A.M. 3166. B.C. 838.
1 This verse is reconciled with ver. 10 by supposing, as in some other cases, that Jehoash, ver. 10, had become co-regent with his father, Jehoahaz, three years before his death—a circumstance most probable in such miserable and unsettled times. C.—As sons frequently reigned with their fathers during the Hebrew monarchy, their reigns are made in some instances to commence from their partnership with their fathers in the throne, and in others from the commencement of their governing alone, after their fathers' decease. Thus we read here that Jehoahaz of Israel began to reign in the twenty-third year of Joash of Judah, and in ver. 10 we read it was in the thirty-seventh of Joash that Jehoash of Israel began to reign, though his father Jehoahaz reigned seventeen years, which would make it about the fortieth of Joash. This is explained by supposing his father admitted him to the government two or three years before his death.—T. H. Horne.
2 And he bdid that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed2 the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.
b ch.10.29. 1 Ki.12.26-33; 13.33; 14.8,9.
2 Heb. walked after.
3 And cthe 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 Ben-hadad the son of Hazael, all their days.
4 And Jehoahaz dbesought the LORD,3 and the LORD hearkened unto him:4 for he esaw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them.
d Ju.10.10. Ps.78.34; 50.15. Is.26.16. Je.22.23. 1 Ki.21.29.
3 B.C. 842.
4 Though his repentance is not mentioned, it is implied, for the Lord heard him in mercy. If so, and there seems no cause to question it, his calamities, though great, both to himself and his country, were happily overruled for good.—C.
5 (And the LORD gave Israel a fsaviour, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians:5 and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents,6 as beforetime.7
6 Nevertheless gthey departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked8 therein: and there 9remained the hgrove also in Samaria.)
7 Neither did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria ihad destroyed them, and had made them like the dust by thrashing.
i ch.8.12; 10.32. Am.1.3. 1 Ki.20.15,27, with 1 Ch.21.5.
8 Now kthe 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?
k 1 Ki.14.19,20. ch.10.34,35.
9 And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and lthey buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned1 in his stead.
l 1 Ki.14.13. Job 3.14.
1 Alone.
10 In the thirty and seventh 2year of Joash king of Judah began3 Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz mto reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned sixteen years.
2 See note on ver. 1.—C.
3 B.C. 841.
m In concert with his father, ch.14.1.
11 And nhe 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.
n ver.2. 1 Ki.12.26-33; 13.33. ch.3.3; 10.29.
12 Ando the rest of the acts of Joash,4 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?
o ver.8,9,25; ch.14.8-16. 2 Ch.25.17-24.
4 The same as Jehoash, ver. 10.—C.
13 And Joash pslept with his fathers;5 and Jeroboam qsat upon his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
14 Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof rhe died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, sO my father, my father! the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof!6
A.M. 3165. B.C. 839.
r Ps.12.1; 89.47. Is.57.1. Zec.1.5.
s ch.2.12; 6.21. Job 22.30. Pr.11.11. Eze.22.30. Is.6.13. Ps.106.23,30.
6 Equivalent, the rabbins and others think, to protector, being to Israel better than chariot and horsemen. They rather hold it to signify, 'Are you also, like Elijah your master, to be taken thus away from us in our day of necessity.'—C.
15 And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows.
16 And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand7 upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha tput his hands upon the king's hands.
7 Heb. Make thine hand to ride.
t Ge.49.24. Ps.127.1,2; 144.1. Jn.15.5. Is.26.12.
17 And he said, Open the window eastward:8 and he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot:9 and he shot. And he said, uThe arrow of the LORD's deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in xAphek, till thou have consumed them.
8 The Syrians had seized upon the country east of Samaria.—C.
9 It was an ancient custom to shoot an arrow into the country it was intended to invade. When Alexander the Great reached the coast of Ionia, 'he threw a dart into it.' The recent conquests of Syria were to the east of Judea.—I.
u Ex.4.2-9. Ju.7.9-15. 2 Sa.5.24.
x 1 Ki.20.26-30. 1 Sa.4.1. ver.19,25.
18 And he said, Take the arrows: and he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smitey upon the ground: and he smote thrice, and stayed.
19 And the man of God was wroth1 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 zsmite Syria but thrice.
1 Or was grieved. Why? He had told the king, 'Thou shalt smite the Syrians till thou have consumed them.' He must therefore have understood the smiting as symbolical, and should therefore have proceeded till ordered to desist.—C.
z ver.25.
20 And Elisha2 died,3 and they buried him. And the abands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.
21 And it came to pass, as they were burying a man,4 that, behold, they spied a band5 of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down,6 and btouched the bones of Elisha, he revived,7 and stood up on his feet.8
4 B.C. 838.
5 A Moabitish band of plunderers.—C.
6 Heb. went down.
b ver.23,25; ch.14.25-27. Eze.37.10. Re.11.11. Jn.11.25; 5.25.
7 So Christ chiefly quickened sinners after his death.
8 Elisha having been the principal witness to the ascension of Elijah, and that ascension being an important evidence of immortality, this additional testimony both to Elisha's character and that vital doctrine is thus miraculously furnished.—C.
22 But cHazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.
c ch.8.12; 10.32; ver 5-7. Ps.106.40-42. De.28.48.
23 And dthe LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,9 and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence1 as yet.
d Eze.20.9,14,17,22. Ju.10.16. Ex.2.24,25; 3.6,7; 32.11,13. Le.26.42. De.32.36. Ps.105.8; 106.45,46.
9 Not for their sakes, but for the sake of the covenant which promised Christ.—C.
1 Heb. face.
25 And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz ftook again, out of the hand of Ben-hadad 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.
A.M. 3166. B.C. 838.
f ver.5,18,19; ch.14.25. De.32.35,36. Ge.22.14.
Notes
Reflections.—How obstinately do men cleave to that which is evil! When idolatry is once rooted in a nation, nothing but the power of God can extirpate it: and when men make themselves wicked, they also become base and miserable. But he is ready to hear the prayer of distress. His mercy abounds even to the chief of sinners. But they who, after both judgments and mercies, continue in their sin, may expect to have at last judgment without mercy. How wisely God magnifies his servants, or renders them obscure, as is best. In what diversified forms they leave this world! Evident marks of God's favour and image are impressed upon some ministers and saints, that even wicked magistrates or others are in conscience constrained to honour them, and lament the loss of them; and what instruction, deliverance, and victory might kings obtain by an intimacy with such! The death-beds of noted ministers are useful schools of important wisdom: but the removal of the few faithful is a great weakening to the defence of a nation. Their loss is felt in death, who when alive were neglected. God himself, however, liveth as our protector and deliverer; and when his everlasting arms are employed in our favour, nothing can detain or withstand us. But, alas! our confined desires and expectations often cramp our distinguished mercies. We improve not the offers and advantages which God puts into our hands, and often we grieve him and his servants by losing our mercies for want of desire to obtain them. The death of God's eminent servants is frequently marked with tokens of wrath against their nation or church. And even a prospect of victory over one enemy is attended with trouble from another. But what blessings are good men, by their former examples, instructions, and prayers, even after they are dead! And quickly is the fate of the most powerful and conquering nations reversed when God pleases.—But does not this Elisha present before us a figure of the great God our Saviour? How abundant his fitness for his work! He was endowed with the Spirit above measure. Ardent was his zeal for God, and tender his compassion towards destitute, grieved, fainting, and endangered men. How express and solemn was his call to his offices, which was confirmed by numerous and diversified miracles! Coming after the New Testament Elijah, John Baptist, he was solemnly initiated to his work on Jordan's bank. By his complete robe of righteousness he divided the depths of wrath and Jordans of trouble. By his new covenant of salt, and the grace thereof, he rectifies the bitter waters and barren soil of law precepts and curses, and of multiplied troubles. By him streams of gospel truths, ordinances, and influences break forth in the wilderness for perishing sinners; and the barren Gentile world he makes a joyful mother of Christians, and these fruitful in good works. To destitute souls and churches he multiplies their oil of grace, till there be no more room to receive it. By his word he often quickened the dead; and many such his death discharged from their graves. By his death and intercession he quickens millions dead in trespasses and sins. By his word he sweetens our bitter lots of temptations and troubles; he restores our sinking spirits, and supplies our famished souls. Multitudes of Gentile sinners he freely cures of their sinful leprosy, by complete purification in the river of his blood and Spirit; and renders them hearty worshippers of the true God. He is the strength and protector of his church, who gives his people victories, ruins their enemies, and manages the nations around for their good. How terrible is the resentment of Heaven against his injurers! They that mock him are rent in pieces, while there is none to deliver them. Those ministers who preach for filthy lucre, or who, by error and falsehood, wound his honour, shall infamously perish in their sin. They who attend his ordinances with malignant intentions, shall be smitten with spiritual blindness and delusion. They who discredit his word, or despise his promised fulness, shall see it with their eyes, but never share of its benefits. Tremendous judgment befell Judas, who betrayed him: and awful is the curse that has fallen on the Jews, who reviled, disbelieved, and persecuted him; and which shall at last fall on all his obstinate despisers.