2 Kings 13 - Summary

Jehoahaz of Israel reigns seventeen years, does evil, and the LORD gives Israel to Hazael and Ben-hadad. Jehoahaz prays and the LORD gives a deliverer; Israel escapes Syria, but Jehoahaz retains only fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand infantry—Syria has made them like threshing dust. He continues in Jeroboam's sins and keeps the Asherah in Samaria. Jehoash reigns sixteen years, also in evil. When Elisha falls sick, Joash weeps over him, 'My father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!' Elisha has him shoot an arrow eastward ('The LORD's arrow of victory over Syria') then strike the ground with arrows; Joash strikes three times and stops. Elisha is angry: striking five or six times would have finished Syria; now only three victories. Elisha dies; when a dead man touches his bones in the grave, he revives. Hazael dies; Joash defeats Ben-hadad three times and recovers Israel's cities.