Note: Words are shown in their original Hebrew order, which differs from English translations. This reflects the emphasis and structure of Scripture as originally written. Click any word to see its full lexicon entry.
1In the twenty-third year of the reign of Joash son of Ahaziah over Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria seventeen years.
2And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and followed the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them.
5So the LORD gave Israel a deliverer, and they escaped the power of the Arameans. Then the people of Israel lived in their own homes as they had before.
6Nevertheless, they did not turn away from the sins that the house of Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit, but they continued to walk in them. The Asherah pole even remained standing in Samaria.
7Jehoahaz had no army left, except fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers, because the king of Aram had destroyed them and made them like the dust at threshing.
8As for the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, along with all his accomplishments and his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?
11And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and did not turn away from all the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit, but he walked in them.
12As for the rest of the acts of Jehoash, along with all his accomplishments and his might, including his war against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?
14When Elisha had fallen sick with the illness from which he would die, Jehoash king of Israel came down to him and wept over him, saying, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!”
16Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” So the king put his hand on the bow, and Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands.
17“Open the east window,” said Elisha. So he opened it and Elisha said, “Shoot!” So he shot. And Elisha declared: “This is the LORD’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram, for you shall strike the Arameans in Aphek until you have put an end to them.”
18Then Elisha said, “Take the arrows!” So he took them, and Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground!” So he struck the ground three times and stopped.
19But the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times. Then you would have struck down Aram until you had put an end to it. But now you will strike down Aram only three times.”
21Once, as the Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders, so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. And as soon as his body touched the bones of Elisha, the man was revived and stood up on his feet.
23But the LORD was gracious to Israel and had compassion on them, and He turned toward them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And to this day, the LORD has been unwilling to destroy them or cast them from His presence.
25Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz took back from Ben-hadad son of Hazael the cities that Hazael had taken in battle from his father Jehoahaz. Jehoash defeated Ben-hadad three times, and so recovered the cities of Israel.
Second Kings 13 presents a spiritual paradox: two kings of Israel who persist in idolatry and evil, yet experience God's mercy and deliverance. The chapter traces the reigns of Jehoahaz and Jehoash (also called Joash), showing how the LORD responds to desperate prayer with compassion, even when His people remain stubbornly unfaithful. The chapter culminates with the death of the prophet Elisha and a remarkable sign of God's power extending even beyond the prophet's death, while demonstrating that the measure of faith determines the measure of blessing received.
Jehoahaz becomes king of Israel in the 23rd year of Judah's King Joash and reigns for seventeen years. Despite witnessing God's covenant faithfulness, he "did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD" (v. 2) and follows the sins of Jeroboam—particularly idolatry and calf worship that had plagued Israel since its division from Judah. God's anger burns against Israel, and He allows the Syrian kings Hazael and Benhadad to oppress them severely (v. 3). However, when Jehoahaz cries out to the LORD in his distress, God hears him (v. 4). The sovereign God grants Israel a "saviour" (v. 5)—likely referring to military deliverance or divine intervention—allowing them temporary relief from Syrian oppression. Yet even this mercy does not produce genuine repentance; Israel continues in idolatry and maintains the Asherah pole in Samaria (v. 6). By verse 7, Israel's military strength is reduced to a mere 50 horsemen, 10 chariots, and 10,000 footmen—a dramatic illustration of how sin weakens a nation.
Jehoahaz dies and is buried in Samaria (v. 9), and his son Jehoash (also called Joash) succeeds him, reigning for sixteen years. Like his father, Jehoash "did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD" (v. 11), walking in the sins of Jeroboam and showing no spiritual transformation. The text notes his military exploits against Amaziah of Judah but emphasizes that his heart remained far from God. When Jehoash dies, he is buried in Samaria with the other kings of Israel, and Jeroboam II ascends the throne (v. 13).
The narrative shifts dramatically when King Jehoash visits the dying prophet Elisha. Jehoash's emotional response—weeping and calling Elisha "the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof" (v. 14)—reveals the king's recognition that God's prophetic word was more valuable than military might. Elisha instructs the king to shoot an arrow eastward toward Syria (vv. 15–17), symbolizing God's deliverance. The "arrow of the LORD's deliverance" represents God's promised victory. When Elisha commands the king to strike the ground with arrows, Jehoash strikes only three times and stops (v. 18). Elisha's anger at this hesitation is instructive: the king should have struck five or six times, demonstrating greater faith and determination. His limited faith results in limited victory—he will defeat Syria three times but not completely (v. 19). After Elisha's death and burial, a remarkable miracle occurs: a corpse accidentally touching Elisha's bones is resurrected, proving that God's power transcends even the prophet's death (v. 21).
Despite Israel's persistent unfaithfulness, the LORD shows compassion "because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob" (v. 23). He refuses to destroy them or cast them away. After Hazael dies, his son Benhadad reigns, and Jehoash recovers several cities from Syria through three military victories (v. 25)—partially fulfilling Elisha's prophecy.
Application for Today
This chapter teaches that God's mercy is not earned by our faithfulness but flows from His covenant love and character. Yet it also shows that the depth of our faith shapes the extent of our blessing. Like Jehoash, we must press forward in faith with full confidence in God's promises, not hesitating or limiting His work through our doubt.
Study Notes — 2 Kings 13
5 sectionsSecond Kings 13 presents a spiritual paradox: two kings of Israel who persist in idolatry and evil, yet experience God's mercy and deliverance. The chapter traces the reigns of Jehoahaz and Jehoash (also called Joash), showing how the LORD responds to desperate prayer with compassion, even when His people remain stubbornly unfaithful. The chapter culminates with the death of the prophet Elisha and a remarkable sign of God's power extending even beyond the prophet's death, while demonstrating that the measure of faith determines the measure of blessing received.
Jehoahaz becomes king of Israel in the 23rd year of Judah's King Joash and reigns for seventeen years. Despite witnessing God's covenant faithfulness, he "did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD" (v. 2) and follows the sins of Jeroboam—particularly idolatry and calf worship that had plagued Israel since its division from Judah. God's anger burns against Israel, and He allows the Syrian kings Hazael and Benhadad to oppress them severely (v. 3). However, when Jehoahaz cries out to the LORD in his distress, God hears him (v. 4). The sovereign God grants Israel a "saviour" (v. 5)—likely referring to military deliverance or divine intervention—allowing them temporary relief from Syrian oppression. Yet even this mercy does not produce genuine repentance; Israel continues in idolatry and maintains the Asherah pole in Samaria (v. 6). By verse 7, Israel's military strength is reduced to a mere 50 horsemen, 10 chariots, and 10,000 footmen—a dramatic illustration of how sin weakens a nation.
Jehoahaz dies and is buried in Samaria (v. 9), and his son Jehoash (also called Joash) succeeds him, reigning for sixteen years. Like his father, Jehoash "did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD" (v. 11), walking in the sins of Jeroboam and showing no spiritual transformation. The text notes his military exploits against Amaziah of Judah but emphasizes that his heart remained far from God. When Jehoash dies, he is buried in Samaria with the other kings of Israel, and Jeroboam II ascends the throne (v. 13).
The narrative shifts dramatically when King Jehoash visits the dying prophet Elisha. Jehoash's emotional response—weeping and calling Elisha "the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof" (v. 14)—reveals the king's recognition that God's prophetic word was more valuable than military might. Elisha instructs the king to shoot an arrow eastward toward Syria (vv. 15–17), symbolizing God's deliverance. The "arrow of the LORD's deliverance" represents God's promised victory. When Elisha commands the king to strike the ground with arrows, Jehoash strikes only three times and stops (v. 18). Elisha's anger at this hesitation is instructive: the king should have struck five or six times, demonstrating greater faith and determination. His limited faith results in limited victory—he will defeat Syria three times but not completely (v. 19). After Elisha's death and burial, a remarkable miracle occurs: a corpse accidentally touching Elisha's bones is resurrected, proving that God's power transcends even the prophet's death (v. 21).
Despite Israel's persistent unfaithfulness, the LORD shows compassion "because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob" (v. 23). He refuses to destroy them or cast them away. After Hazael dies, his son Benhadad reigns, and Jehoash recovers several cities from Syria through three military victories (v. 25)—partially fulfilling Elisha's prophecy.
This chapter teaches that God's mercy is not earned by our faithfulness but flows from His covenant love and character. Yet it also shows that the depth of our faith shapes the extent of our blessing. Like Jehoash, we must press forward in faith with full confidence in God's promises, not hesitating or limiting His work through our doubt.