Jehoahaz Reigns in Israel

1In the twenty-third year of the reign of Joash (given by the Lord) son of Ahaziah (YHWH holds) over Judah (praised), Jehoahaz (YHWH has seized) son of Jehu (YHWH is He) became king of Israel (he wrestles with God), and he reigned in Samaria (watch mountain) seventeen years. 2And he did evil in the sight of the LORD {YHWH} and followed the sins that Jeroboam (the people will contend) son of Nebat (aspect) had caused Israel (he wrestles with God) to commit; he did not turn away from them. 3So the anger of the LORD {YHWH} burned against Israel (he wrestles with God), and He delivered them continually into the hands of Hazael (one who sees God) king of Aram (exalted) (son of Hadad) and his son Ben-hadad.

4Then Jehoahaz (YHWH has seized) sought the favor of the LORD {YHWH}, and the LORD listened to him because He saw the oppression that the king of Aram (exalted) had inflicted on Israel (he wrestles with God). 5So the LORD {YHWH} gave Israel (he wrestles with God) a deliverer, and they escaped the power of the Arameans (exalted). Then the people of Israel lived in their own homes as they had before.

6Nevertheless, they did not turn away from the sins that the house of Jeroboam (the people will contend) had caused Israel (he wrestles with God) to commit, but they continued to walk in them [he continued to walk in them].a The Asherah pole (goddess) even remained standing in Samaria (watch mountain).

7Jehoahaz (YHWH has seized) had no army left, except fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers, because the king of Aram (exalted) had destroyed them and made them like the dust at threshing.

8As for the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz (YHWH has seized), along with all his accomplishments and his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel (he wrestles with God)?

9And Jehoahaz (YHWH has seized) rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria (watch mountain). And his son Jehoash \Joash/b reigned in his place.

Jehoash Reigns in Israel

10In the thirty-seventh year of the reign of Joash (given by the Lord) over Judah (praised), Jehoash son of Jehoahaz (YHWH has seized) became king of Israel (he wrestles with God) in Samaria (watch mountain), and he reigned sixteen years. 11And he did evil in the sight of the LORD {YHWH} and did not turn away from all the sins that Jeroboam (the people will contend) son of Nebat (aspect) had caused Israel (he wrestles with God) to commit, but he walked in them.

12As for the rest of the acts of Jehoash (given by the Lord), along with all his accomplishments and his might, including his war against Amaziah (YHWH is mighty) king of Judah (praised), are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel (he wrestles with God)?

13And Jehoash (given by the Lord) rested with his fathers, and Jeroboam (the people will contend) succeeded him on the throne. Jehoash was buried in Samaria (watch mountain) with the kings of Israel (he wrestles with God).

Elisha’s Final Prophecy

14When Elisha (God is salvation) had fallen sick with the illness from which he would die, Jehoash (given by the Lord) king of Israel (he wrestles with God) came down to him and wept over him, saying, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!”

15Elisha (God is salvation) told him, “Take a bow and some arrows.”

So Jehoash took a bow and some arrows.

16Then Elisha said to the king of Israel (he wrestles with God), “Put your hand on the bow.”

So the king put his hand on the bow, and Elisha (God is salvation) put his hands on the king’s hands.

17“Open the east window,” said Elisha.

So he opened it and Elisha (God is salvation) said, “Shoot!” So he shot.

And Elisha declared:

“This is the LORD’s {YHWH} arrow of victory,

the arrow of victory over Aram (exalted),

for you shall strike the Arameans in Aphek (enclosure)

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 (he wrestles with God), “Strike the ground!”

So he struck the ground three times and stopped.

19But the man of God {Elohim} was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times. Then you would have struck down Aram (exalted) until you had put an end to it. But now you will strike down Aram only three times.”

20And Elisha (God is salvation) died and was buried.

Now the Moabite (of his father) raiders used to come into the land every spring \into the land at the coming in of the year/.c 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 (God is salvation) tomb. And as soon as his body touched the bones of Elisha, the man was revived and stood up on his feet.

22And Hazael (one who sees God) king of Aram (exalted) oppressed Israel (he wrestles with God) throughout the reign of Jehoahaz (YHWH has seized). 23But the LORD {YHWH} was gracious to Israel and had compassion on them, and He turned toward them because of His covenant with Abraham (father of many), Isaac (he laughs), and Jacob (he grasps the heel). And to this day, the LORD has been unwilling to destroy them or cast them from His presence.

24When Hazael (one who sees God) king of Aram (exalted) died, his son Ben-hadad (son of Hadad) reigned in his place. 25Then Jehoash (given by the Lord) son of Jehoahaz (YHWH has seized) took back from Ben-hadad (son of Hadad) son of Hazael (one who sees God) 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 (he wrestles with God).