Jehoahaz Reigns in Israel

1In the twentieth year and third year of Joash son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king over Israel in Samaria seventeen years. 2And he did evil in the eyes of YHWH and went after the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin. He did not depart from them. 3And the anger of YHWH was kindled against Israel, and He delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Aram and into the hand of Ben-hadad son of Hazael, all the days.

4And Jehoahaz pleaded before YHWH, and YHWH listened to him. For He saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Aram oppressed them. 5And YHWH gave to Israel a deliverer, and they went out from under the hand of Aram. And the sons of Israel dwelt in their tents as yesterday and the day before yesterday.

6Nevertheless, they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam who had caused Israel to sin. They walked in them,† and also the wooden image remained in Samaria.

7For He left remaining none of the people of Jehoahaz, but only fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers; for the king of Aram had destroyed them and made them like the dust for threshing.

8And the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and his might, are they not written in the Book of the Words of the Days of the Kings of Israel?

9And Jehoahaz rested with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria. And Joash† his son reigned in his place.

Jehoash Reigns in Israel

10In the thirtieth year and seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria sixteen years. 11And he did evil in the eyes of YHWH. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin. He walked in them.

12And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Words of the Days of the Kings of Israel?

13And Joash rested with his fathers, and Jeroboam sat on his throne. And Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

Elisha’s Final Prophecy

14And Elisha had become sick with the illness from which He would die, and Joash the king of Israel came down to him and wept over his face and said, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen.”

15And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and some arrows.”

And he took to him a bow and arrows.

16And he said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.”

And he drove his hand, and Elisha put his hands on the hands of the king.

17And he said, “Open the window to the east.”

And he opened it, and Elisha said, “Shoot.” And he shot.

And he said,

“The arrow of deliverance of YHWH,

and the arrow of deliverance from Aram.

For you must strike Aram at Aphek

until you have consumed them.”

18And he said, “Take the arrows.”

And he took them, and he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground.”

And he struck three times and he stood.

19And the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Aram up to completion. Now three times you will strike Aram.”

20And Elisha died, and they buried him.

And the bands from Moab came into the land at the coming in of the year.† 21And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band, and they cast the man in the tomb of Elisha, and the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, and he was revived and stood on his feet.

22And Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. 23And YHWH was gracious to them and had compassion on them, and he turned to them on account of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And He would not destroy them nor cast them from His presence, even to now.

24And Hazael king of Aram died, and Ben-hadad his son reigned in his place. 25And Jehoash son of Jehoahaz turned and took the cities from the hand of Ben-hadad son of Hazael that he had taken from the hand of Jehoahaz his father in the war. Three times Joash defeated him and returned the cities of Israel.