2Ki 13 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 2Kgs 13:1-2: 13:1-2 Jehoahaz (814–798 BC ) began his reign in Israel in the year that King Joash of Judah assumed direction of repairs on the Temple (12:6 ). Because Jehoahaz perpetuated the state religion instituted by Jeroboam I (1 Kgs 12:26-33 ), his spiritual evaluation was negative.

Summary for 2Kgs 13:1-2: 13:1-2 ^a Jehoahaz (814–798 BC) began his reign in Israel in the year that King Joash of Judah assumed direction of repairs on the Temple (12:6 ^b). Because Jehoahaz perpetuated the state religion instituted by Jeroboam I (1 Kgs 12:26-33 ^c), his spiritual evaluation was negative.
13:3 ^d Hazael, who had seized the throne of Aram in Damascus by assassinating his predecessor Ben-hadad II (8:15 ^e), continued the oppression of the northern kingdom.

• Ben-hadad apparently served as a commander in Hazael’s forces until he succeeded his father as king in 802 BC.
Summary for 2Kgs 13:4-5: 13:4-5 ^f Jehoahaz prayed ... the Lord heard: Despite Jehoahaz’s poor spiritual condition, God graciously answered his prayer. The Lord graciously answers the earnest prayers of his people (see also 4:32-35 ^g; 6:17-20 ^h; 19:14-28 ⁱ; 20:2-6 ^j; 1 Kgs 3:8-14 ^k; 13:4-6 ^l; 17:21-23 ^m; 18:36-39 ⁿ; Ps 34:4-7 ^o; Jas 5:16 ^p).

• provided someone to rescue the Israelites (cp. Judg 3:9 ^q, 15 ^r): Scholars have suggested many possibilities for Israel’s rescuer, the most likely being King Adad-nirari III of Assyria, whose westward thrusts brought about the capture of Damascus in 802 BC.
13:6 ^s Despite God’s rescue, Israel continued to sin, eventually resulting in the fall of the northern kingdom (17:21-23 ^t; 1 Kgs 14:15-16 ^u).

• This Asherah pole (a Canaanite fertility symbol erected by Ahab, 1 Kgs 16:33 ^v) had apparently been spared in Jehu’s purge of Baal worship (2 Kgs 10:26-29 ^w).
13:7 ^x Years of Aramean oppression severely reduced Israel’s army. Only God could save Israel from complete destruction (13:4-5 ^y). Ultimately, only God can rescue a helpless and lost humanity (Ps 35:10 ^z; Rom 5:6-8 ^aa).
Summary for 2Kgs 13:10-13: 13:10-13 ^ab The narrator atypically combines the accession statement for Jehoash with the usual closing notice concerning his reign. This arrangement allows him to focus attention on some final details about Elisha (13:14-21 ^ac) and Israel’s continuing problem with Aram (13:22-25 ^ad) before returning to Jehoash’s war with King Amaziah of Judah in 14:8-14 ^ae.

• The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel: See study note on 1 Kgs 14:19-20.
13:14 ^af Jehoash wept over Elisha, showing that a faint glow of spiritual consciousness still existed in him.

• the chariots and charioteers of Israel: Jehoash’s tribute to Elisha is reminiscent of Elisha’s words at Elijah’s departure (2:12 ^ag).
Summary for 2Kgs 13:15-17: 13:15-17 ^ah Elisha laid his own hands on the king’s hands: This act conveyed spiritual empowerment for the upcoming battle with the Arameans at Aphek.

• Aphek was situated east of the Sea of Galilee (1 Kgs 20:26 ^ai), thus the eastern window faced the place where the battle would take place.
Summary for 2Kgs 13:18-19: 13:18-19 ^aj Jehoash failed to act on his knowledge that the arrows signified victory over Aram (13:17 ^ak). By striking the ground only three times, he unwittingly limited his own success against the Arameans; final victory came only later in the days of his son Jeroboam II (14:25-28 ^al).
Summary for 2Kgs 13:20-21: 13:20-21 ^am Elisha’s death provides an opportunity to relate one final story about the prophet.

• The Moabite raiders apparently timed their incursions into Israel to coincide with the early harvest and to precede the summer’s heat.

• The dead man revived as his body touched Elisha’s bones, a sign that Elisha’s prophecy would come true. Weakened Israel (13:7 ^an) would revive and repel the Aramean invaders (13:25 ^ao; 14:25 ^ap; cp. Ezek 37:1-14 ^aq).
13:23 ^ar Despite Israel’s continued infidelity, God remained faithful to his covenant with Abraham (Gen 12:1-3 ^as; 13:15-17 ^at; 15:18-20 ^au; 17:6-8 ^av). By listing Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the writer emphasizes Israel’s spiritual identity with the Lord and its possession of the land of promise (see Gen 50:24 ^aw; Exod 3:6 ^ax, 15-16 ^ay; 6:3 ^az, 6-8 ^ba; Deut 6:10 ^bb; 9:5 ^bc; 34:4 ^bd).
Summary for 2Kgs 13:24-25: 13:24-25 ^be Ben-hadad son of Hazael came to the throne of Aram in Damascus in 802 BC, reigning twenty-two years in a declining kingdom.

• Adad-nirari III of Assyria inflicted heavy losses against the Arameans (805–802 BC), allowing King Jehoash of Israel to further decimate this enemy. Fulfilling Elisha’s prophecy, Israel defeated Ben-hadad on three occasions and so recovered the Israelite towns. Jehoash’s limited success provided a springboard for Jeroboam II’s full-scale victories over the Arameans (14:25 ^bf).