5. Jehoash’s evil reign in Israel 13:10-25Again two kings with the same name ruled over the Northern and Southern Kingdoms at the same time, though they ruled contemporaneously for only about two years (798-796 B.C.). Jehoash of Israel’s dates are 798-782 B.C., and Jehoash of Judah’s are 835-796 B.C. read more
Elisha’s prophesy and death 13:14-21Jehoash of Israel had respect and affection for Elisha. He anticipated the loss that the death of God’s spiritual warrior would be to Israel (2 Kings 13:14). He recognized that Israel’s real defense lay in Yahweh’s angelic army and in Elisha’s spiritual warfare for her (2 Kings 13:14; cf. 2 Kings 2:12)."The prophet is the man whose prayer is better than chariots and horsemen. Trust in the words of the prophet means that horses and chariots can be abandoned."... read more
Reigns of Jehoahaz and Joash of Israel. The last Prediction of Elisha3. All their days] RV ’continually,’ i.e. throughout the reign of Jehoahaz. 5 A saviour] either Jehoash (2 Kings 13:25) or Jeroboam II (2 Kings 14:25-27) is meant. In their tents] i.e. in their homes, the phrase being a survival from earlier times when the Israelites were a body of nomads roaming the desert. 6. The grove] RV ’the Asherah’: see on 1 Kings 14:15. If Jehu had altogether abolished the worship of Baal (2 Kings... read more
(14-21) The visit of Joash to the dying Elisha.This section is obviously derived from another documentary source than the preceding. What a fresh and life-like picture it presents in contrast with the colourless abstract which it follows! read more
(15) Take bow and arrows.—From one of the royal attendants. read more
(16) Put thine hand upon the bow.—Rather, as margin. In drawing a bow, the left hand “rides” upon it, or closes round it, while the right grasps arrow and string.Elisha put his hands upon the king’s hands.—So as to invest the act of shooting with a prophetic character; and, further perhaps, to signify the consecration of the king to the task that the shooting symbolised. It is not implied that Elisha’s hands were on the king’s hands when he shot. read more
(17) And he said—i.e., Elisha said.The arrow of the Lord’s . . . Syria.—Literally, An arrow of victory for Jehovah, and an arrow of victory over Aram!In Aphek.—Joshua 13:4; 1 Kings 20:26. The scene of former defeats was to become that of triumph.Till thou have consumed them.—Literally, unto finishing. The annihilation of the opposing army at Aphek, not of the entire forces of Syria, is predicted. (See 2 Kings 13:19.) read more
Age and Youth 2 Kings 13:14-19 This is the last hour in a prophet's life. The brave, simple-hearted Elisha, now past eighty years, has lain down to die. He had been not prophet merely, but patriot; and the nation's grief was the more bitter that at this juncture he could ill be spared. Repeatedly in the past he had stepped between Israel and the vengeance of her foes; even now, as he lay waiting for the end, his parting thoughts were given to his country. They must have been sad enough. Israel... read more
elete_me 2 Kings 13:10-21THE DYNASTY OF JEHUJehoahaz 814-797 {; 2 Kings 13:1-9}Joash 797-781 {2 Kings 13:10-21; 2 Kings 14:8-16}Jeroboam II 781-740 {; 2 Kings 14:23-29}Zechariah 740 {2 Kings 15:8-12}"Them that honor Me I will honor, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed."- 1 Samuel 2:30ISRAEL had scarcely ever sunk to so low a nadir of degradation as she did in the reign of the son of Jehu. We have already mentioned that some assign to his reign the ghastly story which we have... read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 13:15
15-18. Take bow and arrows—Hostilities were usually proclaimed by a herald, sometimes by a king or general making a public and formal discharge of an arrow into the enemy's country. Elisha directed Joash to do this, as a symbolical act, designed to intimate more fully and significantly the victories promised to the king of Israel over the Syrians. His laying his hands upon the king's hands was to represent the power imparted to the bow shot as coming from the Lord through the medium of the... read more