2 Kings 13: Mercy and a Dying Prophet
Israel's kings keep doing evil, yet God shows compassion for his covenant; and even Elisha's bones bring a dead man back to life.
2 Kings 13 (WEB)
1 In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria for seventeen years.
2 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin; he didn’t depart from it.
3 Yahweh’s anger 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, continually.
4 Jehoahaz begged Yahweh, and Yahweh listened to him; for he saw the oppression of Israel, how that the king of Syria oppressed them.
5 (Yahweh gave Israel a savior, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians; and the children of Israel lived in their tents as before.
6 Nevertheless they didn’t depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, with which he made Israel to sin, but walked therein: and there remained the Asherah also in Samaria.)
7 For he didn’t leave to Jehoahaz of the people any more than fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria destroyed them, and made them like the dust in threshing.
8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and his might, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
9 Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his place.
10 In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz began to reign over Israel in Samaria for sixteen years.
11 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh; he didn’t depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin; but he walked therein.
12 Now the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
13 Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat on his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
14 Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness of which he died: and Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over him, and said, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!”
15 Elisha said to him, “Take bow and arrows”; and he took to him bow and arrows.
16 He said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow”; and he put his hand on it. Elisha laid his hands on the king’s hands.
17 He said, “Open the window eastward”; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot!” and he shot. He said, “Yahweh’s arrow of victory, even the arrow of victory over Syria; for you shall strike the Syrians in Aphek, until you have consumed them.”
18 He said, “Take the arrows”; and he took them. He said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground”; and he struck three times, and stopped.
19 The man of God was angry with him, and said, “You should have struck five or six times. Then you would have struck Syria until you had consumed it, whereas now you shall strike Syria just three times.”
20 Elisha died, and they buried him. Now the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.
21 As they were burying a man, behold, they saw a band of raiders; and they threw the man into Elisha’s tomb. As soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.
22 Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.
23 But Yahweh was gracious to them, and had compassion on them, and had respect to them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet.
24 Hazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in his place.
25 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. Joash struck him three times, and recovered the cities of Israel.
2 Kings 13 (KJV)
1 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.
2 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.
3 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 Ben–hadad the son of Hazael, all their days.
4 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.
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.
6 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.)
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 had destroyed them, and had made them like the dust by threshing.
8 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?
9 And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his stead.
10 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.
11 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.
12 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?
13 And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
14 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.
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 hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king’s hands.
17 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.
18 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.
19 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.
20 And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands 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, 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.
22 But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.
23 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.
24 So Hazael king of Syria died; and Ben–hadad his son reigned in his stead.
25 And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took 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.
2 Kings 13 (ASV)
1 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.
2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.
3 And the anger of Jehovah 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, continually.
4 And Jehoahaz besought Jehovah, and Jehovah hearkened unto him; for he saw the oppression of Israel, how that the king of Syria oppressed them.
5 (And Jehovah 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.
6 Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, wherewith he made Israel to sin, but walked therein: and there remained the Asherah also in Samaria.)
7 For he left not to Jehoahaz of the people save fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria destroyed them, and made them like the dust in threshing.
8 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?
9 And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his stead.
10 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.
11 And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah; he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin; but he walked therein.
12 Now 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?
13 And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
14 Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died: and Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over him, and said, My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof!
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 thy hand upon the bow; and he put his hand upon it. And Elisha laid his hands upon the king’s hands.
17 And he said, Open the window eastward; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot; and he shot. And he said, Jehovah’s arrow of victory, even the arrow of victory over Syria; for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them.
18 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.
19 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.
20 And Elisha died, and they buried him. Now the bands 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, that, behold, they spied a band; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.
22 And Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.
23 But Jehovah 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.
24 And Hazael king of Syria died; and Ben-hadad his son reigned in his stead.
25 And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took 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 smite him, and recovered the cities of Israel.
Summary
Jehoahaz son of Jehu reigns over Israel and does evil, clinging to the sins of Jeroboam, so the LORD hands Israel into the oppressive grip of Hazael and his son Benhadad until the army is reduced to a remnant. When Jehoahaz pleads with the LORD, God listens and gives Israel a savior, yet the people still do not turn from their sins. His son Jehoash also does evil. When Elisha falls mortally ill, King Jehoash comes weeping, crying, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!”—the very words Elisha had once cried over Elijah. Elisha has the king shoot an arrow eastward as the LORD's arrow of victory over Syria, then tells him to strike the ground with the arrows; the king strikes only three times and stops, and the prophet, angered, says he will now defeat Syria only three times instead of utterly. Elisha dies and is buried, and later, when raiders interrupt a burial, a corpse cast into Elisha's tomb revives at the touch of his bones. Through it all, the LORD remains gracious to Israel because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, refusing yet to cast them from his presence, and Jehoash recovers cities from Syria three times.
Main Characters
- Jehoahaz — Jehu's son and king of Israel, who does evil yet pleads with the LORD in oppression, and is granted a measure of deliverance.
- Jehoash (Joash) of Israel — Jehoahaz's son, who weeps over the dying Elisha, half-heartedly strikes the arrows, and recovers cities from Syria three times.
- Elisha — The dying prophet who gives Israel's king a final prophecy of victory, and whose very bones raise a dead man after his burial.
- Yahweh (the LORD) — The God who disciplines sinful Israel yet remains gracious and compassionate for the sake of his covenant with the patriarchs.
Key Verse
2 Kings 13:23 (WEB)
But Yahweh was gracious to them, and had compassion on them, and had respect to them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet.
Lessons Learned
- God hears the cry of even an undeserving people and answers in mercy.
- The LORD's faithfulness rests on his covenant, not on our worthiness.
- Halfhearted faith receives only a fraction of what God was ready to give.
- God's life-giving power is so great that even a dead prophet's bones can raise the dead.
- God hears the cry of the desperate. “Jehoahaz begged Yahweh, and Yahweh listened to him” (2 Kings 13:4, WEB), giving Israel a savior. God is moved by our pleas even when we have failed him.
- God's mercy rests on his covenant. “Yahweh was gracious to them… because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” (2 Kings 13:23, WEB). His faithfulness is anchored in his promise, not our merit.
- Halfhearted faith limits the blessing. Because the king struck the ground only three times, Elisha said he would defeat Syria “just three times” (2 Kings 13:19, WEB). God often grants according to the measure of our faith.
- God is the giver of life. A dead man revives at the touch of Elisha's bones (2 Kings 13:21, WEB), a striking sign that the God who works through his servants holds power over death itself.
- How does God respond to Jehoahaz's prayer despite Israel's continued sin?
- What is the significance of God's mercy being tied to his covenant with the patriarchs?
- What does the king's striking the ground only three times teach about the role of faith in receiving God's promises?
- How does the reviving of a dead man at Elisha's bones point us toward the hope of resurrection?
- Where might God be inviting you to a bolder, fuller faith rather than a hesitant, halfhearted one?
- Even though Israel persists in sin, God hears Jehoahaz's plea and provides a deliverer. His mercy is not earned but freely given to those who cry to him. This is a hopeful reminder that God's ear is open even to the undeserving who turn to him.
- God's grace flows from his ancient promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, not from Israel's faithfulness. This anchors mercy in his unchanging character and covenant. Point the group to Christ, in whom all God's covenant promises find their yes (2 Corinthians 1:20).
- Elisha invited the king to express bold expectation, but he stopped at three strikes, and so received only three victories. The episode gently teaches that timid faith can limit what we receive of God's offered blessing, while bold faith lays hold of his promises.
- A corpse comes to life simply by touching the prophet's bones, a vivid sign that God is the Lord of life and death. It anticipates the resurrection hope fulfilled in Christ, the firstfruits, who will raise all who are his at the last day.
- This is a gentle personal-application question. Invite members to consider where they have settled for a cautious, minimal faith, and to ask God for greater boldness. Encourage them, without pressure, to trust his generous promises more fully.