1Jehoahaz reigneth wickedly over Israel. 3Israel oppressed by Hazael is relieved at the prayer of Jehoahaz. 8Jehoahaz dieth; Joash succeedeth him. 10His bad reign. 14Elisha visited on his death bed by Joash, promiseth him three victories over the Syrians, whose overthrow had been complete but for the king's fault. 20Elisha dieth; the Moabites invade the land; on whose appearance a dead man being cast into Elisha's grave, is raised to life on touching his bones. 22Hazael, who had oppressed Israel, dying, Joash thrice defeateth Ben-hadad, and recovereth the cities taken by Hazael.
1IN the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah king of Judah 1Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, 2and reigned 3seventeen years.
1 Hebr. Jehoachaz.
2 These words are here inserted, as also verse 10, out of 2 Kings 3:1; 8:17, 26; 12:1. See also 1 Kings 15 on verse 33.
3 Whereof the two last (years) were jointly with his son. See verses 10, 22.
2And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and 4followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not 5therefrom.
4 Understand chiefly the idolatry instituted by him, which the Israelites, by his command and example, committed with the golden calves. See 1 Kings 12:26, etc.; 2 Kings 10:29. Also below verses 6, 11.
5 Or, from any of them, namely, sins.
3¶And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he delivered 6them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael, 7all their days.
6 Namely, the Israelites, whom God so delivered up into the power of the Syrians, that they were smitten and oppressed by them, with the loss of part of their land.
7 Namely, of Jehoahaz, king of Israel; namely, as long as he reigned alone. Also verse 22.
4And Jehoahaz besought the LORD, and the LORD hearkened unto him: for 8he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them.
8 This is spoken of God after the manner of men, and signifies His Fatherly care and pity towards those who are oppressed, and with true repentance of heart seek unto Him. See Gen. 31 on verse 42.
5(And the LORD gave Israel a 9saviour, so that they went out from under 10the hand of the Syrians: and the children of Israel dwelt 11in their tents, 12as beforetime.
9 Namely, Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz. See verse 25.
10 That is, command. See Gen. 16 on verse 6; Num. 31 on verse 49.
11 That is, in their houses and dwellings. The Holy Scripture keeps this phrase, looking at the practice of the patriarchs, and of the Israelites in the wilderness, where they dwelt in tents. See Deut. 16 on verse 7.
12 Hebr. as yesterday, and ere yesterday.
6Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but 13walked 14therein: and there remained 15the grove also in Samaria.)
13 Namely Jehoahaz.
14 Or, in every one of them, namely, sins. Compare verse 2.
15 Understand the idolatrous grove, which Ahab had caused to be planted, 1 Kings 16:33. Of the idolatrous groves, see Deut. 7 on verse 5.
7Neither 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 16like the dust by threshing.
16 That is, had oppressed them by many overthrows, and, as it were, trodden them under foot, as oxen in those countries by threshing did tread down the ears of corn with their feet.
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?
9And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his stead.
10¶In 17the 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.
17 Which was about the fifteenth year of the reign of Jehoahaz. Compare the annotation on verse 1.
11And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD; he departed not from all 18the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin: but he walked 19therein.
18 See on verse 2.
19 Or, in every one of them.
12And 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?
13And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam 20sat upon his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
20 That is, became king. See 1 Kings 1 on verse 13.
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, 21Oa my father, my father, the 22chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.
21 Thus he calls him out of love and reverence.
a 2 Kings 2:12.
22 See the annotation at 2 Kings 2 on verse 12.
15And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows.
16And he said to the king of Israel, 23Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and 24Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands.
23 Hebr. make thine hand to ride upon the bow. This was a sign to king Joash that he was to undertake war.
24 Namely, to signify to the king that God would fight with him, and that our action must proceed from God, if it should be good; and must be blessed by Him, if it is to prosper.
17And he said, Open the window 25eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, 26The arrow of the LORD's deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians inb27Aphek, till thou have consumed them.
25 Which was toward Syria.
26 That is, let this arrow be a sign to assure thee, that God will give thee victory over thine enemies, and deliver thy people from their power.
b 1 Kings 20:30.
27 See of this city 1 Sam. 4:1; 29:1; 1 Kings 20:26. Others take this word not for a proper name, but translate it strongly, powerfully, mightily.
18And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, 28Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed.
28 God did hereby signify unto Joash that he should smite and vanquish the Syrians, on condition that he should not be wanting in performing his duty therein. Now in that he smote the ground but three times, it did intimate some neglect and default, which he would commit in executing this punishment upon the Syrians; so that he also smote them but three times. See verse 25.
19And 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 29the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.
29 That is, certain troops, or companies of robbing and plundering soldiers. See 2 Kings 5 on verse 2.
21And 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 30all the days of Jehoahaz.
30 That is, as long as he reigned; namely, alone and before he admitted Joash his son to reign with him: for from that very time did God begin to deliver his people by Joash.
23And the LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, 31because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet.
31 Wherein God had promised, that He would not be only their God, but also the God of their seed, Gen. 17:7.
24So Hazael king of Syria died; and Ben-hadad his son reigned in his stead.
25And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz 32took 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 33recovered the cities of Israel.
32 Hebr. returned, and took. See Num. 11 on verse 4.
33 Namely, to the kingdom of Israel. The full phrase is 2 Kings 14:22, 28.