2Kings 13

1 During the twenty-third year of the reign of ^{a13:1 The Heb. lacks the reign of} Ahaziah’s son Joash, king of Judah, Jehu’s son Jehoahaz began his seventeen year reign in Samaria over Israel. ^{b13:1 i.e. over the northern kingdom}ISV — 2Kings 13:1

2 He did what the LORD considered to be evil, after the pattern of Nebat’s son Jeroboam. By doing so, he caused Israel to sin, and he never changed course from it.ISV — 2Kings 13:2

3 As a result, the LORD’s wrath flared up against Israel, so he handed them over to domination by king Hazael of Aram and later into constant domination ^{c13:3 Lit. into domination all their days} by Hazael’s son Ben-hadad.ISV — 2Kings 13:3

4 But Jehoahaz sought the LORD, ^{d13:4 Lit. the LORD’s face} and the LORD paid attention to him, because the LORD ^{e13:4 Lit. because he} had been watching the oppression that Israel was enduring from the king of Aram. ^{f13:4 The Heb. lacks that Israel was enduring from the king of Aram.}ISV — 2Kings 13:4

5 The LORD provided Israel with a deliverer, so they escaped the Aramean oppression while the descendants of Israel lived in tents as they had formerly.ISV — 2Kings 13:5

6 Nevertheless, they did not change course away from the sins of Jeroboam’s household, by which he caused Israel to sin, but continued on that same course, with Asherah poles ^{g13:6 i.e. cultic pillars used in pagan worship, and so throughout the book} remaining in place in Samaria.ISV — 2Kings 13:6

7 For the Aramean king ^{h13:7 Lit. For he} had left only 50 cavalry, ten chariots, and 10,000 soldiers out of the army belonging to Jehoahaz, because the king of Aram had destroyed the others, ^{i13:7 Lit. destroyed them} making them like chaff left over after threshing.ISV — 2Kings 13:7

8 Now the rest of the activities of Jehoahaz, including everything he did and his grandeur, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not?ISV — 2Kings 13:8

9 So Jehoahaz died, as did ^{j13:9 Lit. Jehoahaz slept with} his ancestors, and he was buried in Samaria while his son Joash replaced him as king.ISV — 2Kings 13:9

10 During the thirty-seventh year of the reign of ^{k13:10 The Heb. lacks the reign of} king Joash ^{l3:10 Joash and Jehoash are alternate spellings of the same name} of Judah, Jehoahaz’s son Jehoash began a sixteen year reign as king over Israel in Samaria.ISV — 2Kings 13:10

11 He practiced what the LORD considered to be evil, not changing course from all of the sins practiced by Nebat’s son Jeroboam by which he caused Israel to sin. Instead, he continued on that same course.ISV — 2Kings 13:11

12 The rest of Joash’s activities, including everything he did and the vehemence with which he fought against king Amaziah of Judah are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not?ISV — 2Kings 13:12

13 So Joash died, as did ^{m13:13 Lit. Joash slept with} his ancestors, and Jeroboam assumed his throne after Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.ISV — 2Kings 13:13

14 When Elisha fell ill with the sickness from which he was about to die, king Joash of Israel came down to see ^{n13:14 The Heb. lacks see} him, wept in his presence, and told him, “My father, Israel’s chariots and horsemen!”ISV — 2Kings 13:14

15 Elisha told him, “Pick up a bow and some arrows.” So he picked up a bow and some arrows.ISV — 2Kings 13:15

16 Then Elisha told Israel’s king, “Draw the bow!” As he did so, Elisha laid his hands on top of the king’s handsISV — 2Kings 13:16

17 and ordered him, “Open a window that faces east.” So he did so. Elisha ordered him, “Shoot!” So he shot. Then Elisha said, “This is the LORD’s arrow of victory—the victory arrow against Aram, because you will defeat the Arameans at Aphek until you will have utterly finished them off.”ISV — 2Kings 13:17

18 After this Elisha said, “Pick up the arrows.” So the king picked them up. Then Elisha told the king of Israel, “Strike the ground!” So he struck it three times and then stood still.ISV — 2Kings 13:18

19 At this, the man of God became angry at him and told him, “You should have struck five or six times! Then you would have attacked Aram until you would have destroyed it! But as it is now, you’ll defeat Aram only three times!”ISV — 2Kings 13:19

20 Later, Elisha died and was buried. Now at that time, various Moabite marauders had been invading the land each spring.ISV — 2Kings 13:20

21 One day while some Israelis ^{o13:21 Lit. As they} were burying a man, they saw some marauders, so they threw the man into Elisha’s grave. But when the man fell against Elisha’s remains, ^{p13:21 Lit. bones} he revived and rose to his feet.ISV — 2Kings 13:21

22 Meanwhile, king Hazael of Aram had been oppressing Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz,ISV — 2Kings 13:22

23 but the LORD showed grace to them, displayed his compassion toward them, and turned to them due to his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He would not destroy them or evict them from his presence up until that time.ISV — 2Kings 13:23

24 After king Hazael of Aram died, his son Ben-hadad replaced him as king.ISV — 2Kings 13:24

25 At that time, Jehoahaz’s son Jehoash recaptured from Hazael’s son Ben-hadad the cities that Hazael ^{q13:25 Lit. he} had captured through warfare from the control of Jehoahaz, Jehoash’s father. Joash ^{r13:25 Joash and Jehoash are alternate spellings of the same name} defeated and recovered cities of Israel from Ben-hadad ^{s13:25 Lit. him} three times.ISV — 2Kings 13:25