CHAPTER XIII _Jehoahaz reigns in Israel_ seventeen _years; his various acts,_ _and wars with the Syrians_, 1-8. _He dies, and Joash reigns in his stead, and does evil in the_ _sight of the Lord_, 9-13. _Elisha's last sickness; he foretells a three-fold defeat of_ _the Syrians, and dies_, 14-20... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 13:5. _AND THE LORD GAVE ISRAEL A SAVIOUR_] This was undoubtedly _Joash_, whose successful wars against the Syrians are mentioned at the conclusion of the chapter. _Houbigant_ recommends to read the _seventh_ verse after the _fourth_, then the _fifth_ and _sixth_, and next the _eighth_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 13:6. _THE GROVE ALSO IN SAMARIA_] _Asherah_, or _Astarte_, remained in Samaria, and there was she worshipped, with all her abominable rites.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 13:10. _IN THE THIRTY AND SEVENTH YEAR_] Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, was associated with his father in the government two years before his death. It is this association that is spoken of here. He succeeded him two years after, a little before the death of Elisha. Joash reigned _sixteen... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 13:12. _WHEREWITH HE FOUGHT AGAINST AMAZIAH_] This war with Amaziah may be seen in ample detail 2 Chronicles 25; it ended in the total defeat of Amaziah, who was taken prisoner by Joash, and afterwards slain in a conspiracy at Lachish. Joash took Jerusalem, broke down _four hundred_ cu... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 13:14. _NOW ELISHA WAS FALLEN SICK_] This is supposed to have taken place in the _tenth_ year of Joash; and if so, Elisha must have prophesied about _sixty-five_ years. _O MY FATHER, MY FATHER_] "What shall I do now thou art dying? thou art the only defense of Israel." He accosts him... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 13:15. _TAKE BOW AND ARROWS._] The _bow_, the _arrows_, and the _smiting on the ground_, were all emblematical things, indicative of the _deliverance of Israel_ from Syria.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 13:17. _OPEN THE WINDOW EASTWARD_] This was towards the country beyond Jordan, which Hazael had taken from the Israelites. _THE ARROW OF - DELIVERANCE FROM SYRIA_] That is, As surely as that arrow is shot towards the lands conquered from Israel by the Syrians, so surely shall those la... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 13:18. _SMITE UPON THE GROUND_] As he was ordered to take his _arrows_, the smiting on the ground must mean _shooting arrows into_ _it_. _HE SMOTE THRICE, AND STAYED._] The prophet knew that this shooting was _emblematical_: probably the king was not aware of what depended on the _fre... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 13:20. _AND ELISHA DIED_] The two prophets, _Elijah_ and _Elisha_, were both most extraordinary men. Of the former, it is difficult to say whether he was a _man_, or an _angel_ in a _human body_. The arguments _for_ this latter opinion are strong, the objections against it very feeble.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 13:21. _THEY SPIED A BAND_] They saw one of these _marauding_ _parties_; and through fear could not wait to bury their dead, but threw the body into the grave of Elisha, which chanced then to be open; and as soon as it touched the bones of the prophet, the man was restored to life. Thi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 13:23. _AND THE LORD WAS GRACIOUS UNTO THEM_] ויחן _vaiyachon_, he had tender affection for them, as a husband has for his wife, or a father for his own children. _AND HAD COMPASSION ON THEM_] וירחמם _vairachamem_, his _bowels_ _yearned over them_; he felt for them, he _sympathized_ w... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 13:25. _THREE TIMES DID JOASH BEAT HIM_] The particulars of these battles we have not; but these three victories were according to the prediction of Elisha, 2 Kings 13:19. That these victories were very _decisive_ we learn from their fruits, for Joash took from the Syrians the cities w... [ Continue Reading ]