2 Kings 13:10-25
Three Strikes
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10In the thirty-seventh year of the reign of Joash over Judah, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned sixteen years.
11And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and did not turn away from all the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit, but he walked in them.
12As for the rest of the acts of Jehoash, along with all his accomplishments and his might, including his war against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?
13And Jehoash rested with his fathers, and Jeroboam succeeded him on the throne. Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
14When Elisha had fallen sick with the illness from which he would die, Jehoash king of Israel came down to him and wept over him, saying, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!”
15Elisha told him, “Take a bow and some arrows.” So Jehoash took a bow and some arrows.
16Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” So the king put his hand on the bow, and Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands.
17“Open the east window,” said Elisha. So he opened it and Elisha said, “Shoot!” So he shot. And Elisha declared: “This is the LORD’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram, for you shall strike the Arameans in Aphek until you have put an end to them.”
18Then Elisha said, “Take the arrows!” So he took them, and Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground!” So he struck the ground three times and stopped.
19But the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times. Then you would have struck down Aram until you had put an end to it. But now you will strike down Aram only three times.”
20And Elisha died and was buried. Now the Moabite raiders used to come into the land every spring.
21Once, as the Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders, so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. And as soon as his body touched the bones of Elisha, the man was revived and stood up on his feet.
22And Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz.
23But the LORD was gracious to Israel and had compassion on them, and He turned toward them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And to this day, the LORD has been unwilling to destroy them or cast them from His presence.
24When Hazael king of Aram died, his son Ben-hadad reigned in his place.
25Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz took back from Ben-hadad son of Hazael the cities that Hazael had taken in battle from his father Jehoahaz. Jehoash defeated Ben-hadad three times, and so recovered the cities of Israel.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Jehoash son of Jehoahaz becomes king over Israel and reigns in Samaria for sixteen years. He continues the sins of Jeroboam. The account also records his military conflict with Amaziah of Judah, but first it returns to Elisha, who is sick with the illness from which he will die.
Jehoash visits Elisha and weeps over him, using the words Elisha himself once spoke when Elijah was taken away: “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!” The king recognizes that Elisha's prophetic ministry has been more important to Israel's defense than its visible military strength.
Elisha tells the king to take a bow and arrows. He places his hands on the king's hands and tells him to shoot toward the east. Elisha calls the shot the LORD's arrow of victory over Aram. Then he tells Jehoash to strike the ground with the arrows. The king strikes three times and stops. Elisha says that five or six strikes would have meant complete victory; now Jehoash will defeat Aram only three times. The account does not tell us why the king stopped.
After Elisha dies, a dead man is thrown into his tomb during a Moabite raid. When the body touches Elisha's bones, the man revives and stands. The LORD's power is not exhausted by the prophet's death. The LORD continues to show compassion because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jehoash defeats Ben-hadad three times and recovers Israel's cities, just as Elisha's word foretold. The prophet dies, but the God whose word he spoke remains faithful.
Questions
1 What does Jehoash say to Elisha?
AnswerJehoash cries, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!” as Elisha nears death.
2 What does Elisha tell Jehoash to do with the arrows?
AnswerHe tells him to shoot through the east window, then strike the ground with the arrows. These actions accompany a promise of victory over Aram.
3 Why is Elisha angry?
AnswerJehoash stops after three strikes. Elisha says five or six would have meant complete victory, but now Israel will win only three times.
4 What happens when a dead man touches Elisha's bones?
AnswerThe dead man revives when his body touches Elisha's bones and he stands on his feet.
What This Means for Us
Jehoash weeps over Elisha while continuing the sins of Jeroboam. Respect for someone who teaches God's word can coexist with disobedience to that word. In our families, affection for a pastor or a Christian relative cannot take the place of listening to God ourselves.
The passage also gives hope when a faithful servant dies. Elisha's death does not end God's power or cancel his covenant. We may grieve someone whose prayers and counsel sustained us, knowing that the Lord who helped us through that person is still with his people.
Prayer
Faithful Lord, thank you for those who teach us your word. Help us receive it with more than admiration. Comfort families grieving someone they relied on, and remind them that your power and mercy have not ended. Amen.