2 Kings 13:22

THE FULFILLMENT OF ELISHA'S PROMISE OF VICTORIES OVER SYRIA BY JOASH

"And Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. But Jehovah was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither did he cast them from his presence, as yet. And Hazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in his stead. And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael the cities which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times did Joash smite him, and recovered the cities of Israel."

The last sentence here records the exact fulfillment of Elisha's prophecy of a triple victory of Joash over Syria.

We also have here a recapitulation. 2 Kings 13:22 refers back to 2 Kings 13:3, and 2 Kings 13:23 refers back to 2 Kings 13:4-5.

"As yet" (`until now' in margin) (2 Kings 13:23). These are among the most significant words in the passage. "The author here had in mind that the Northern Israel would ultimately be cast away, rejected, and removed out of God's sight (2 Kings 17:18-23), but, as yet, there still remained an interval of about a century before the blow would fall and the northern kingdom would end."[23]

2 Kings 13:25 may be read to mean that Benhadad had captured those cities which Joash recovered. However, strictly speaking, Hazael is the antecedent of the pronoun "he." But, if Benhadad was Hazael's general in the conquering campaign, then, Hazael, as king, had taken those cities from Jehoahaz, or Benhadad his son and commanding general had done so.