2 Kings 13

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

2He did evil in the sight of Yahweh and went after the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, by which he caused Israel to sin; he did not depart from them.

3Yahweh's anger burned against Israel, and he handed them over to Hazael king of Aram and to Ben-hadad son of Hazael for all their days.

4Jehoahaz besought the face of Yahweh, and Yahweh heeded him, for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Aram oppressed them.

5Yahweh gave Israel a deliverer, so they broke free from under Aram's hand, and the sons of Israel dwelt in their tents as formerly.

6But they did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam's house, by which he caused Israel to sin; they walked in it, and the Asherah stood in Samaria too.

7For he left Jehoahaz from the people only fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen, because the king of Aram destroyed them and made them like dust for threshing.

8The rest of Jehoahaz's deeds, all that he accomplished, and his valor—are they not recorded in the book of the daily records of Israel's kings?

9Jehoahaz lay down with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria, and Joash his son reigned after him.

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

11He did evil in Yahweh's eyes; he did not turn from all the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin—in them he walked.

12The rest of Joash's deeds, all that he accomplished, and his valor by which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah—are they not written in the book of the words of the days for the kings of Israel?

13Joash lay down with his fathers, Jeroboam sat on his throne, and Joash was buried in Samaria with Israel's kings.

14Elisha fell ill with the sickness by which he would die. Joash king of Israel came down to him, wept over his face, and said, "My father, my father, chariot of Israel and its horsemen!"

15Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and arrows.” And he took a bow and arrows for himself.

16He said to Israel's king, "Place your hand on the bow"; and he placed his hand on it, and Elisha placed his hands on the king's hands.

17He said, "Open the window to the east"; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, "Shoot," and he shot. He said, "Yahweh's arrow of salvation, and the arrow of salvation against Aram; you will strike Aram at Aphek until you consume them."

18He said, “Take the arrows,” and he took them. He said to the king of Israel, “Beat the ground,” and he beat it three times and stopped.

19The man of God grew angry with him and said, "You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria until you destroyed it completely, but now you will strike Syria just three times."

20Elisha died, and they buried him. Moabite raiding bands came into the land when the year came.

21As they were burying a man, suddenly they saw the band and threw the man into Elisha's grave; the man went and touched Elisha's bones, revived, and stood up on his feet.

22Hazael, king of Aram, oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.

23Yahweh was gracious to them, had compassion on them, and turned toward them for the sake of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and refused to destroy them or cast them from his presence until now.

24Hazael, king of Aram, died, and Ben-hadad his son reigned in his place.

25Jehoash son of Jehoahaz recaptured the cities from Benhadad son of Hazael, the cities he had seized from his father Jehoahaz's control during the war. Joash struck him three times and recovered Israel's cities.