2 Kings 13:14-19 ▼

14 Now Elisha had a terminal illness. King Joash of Israel went down to visit him. He wept before him and said, |My father, my father! The chariot and horsemen of Israel!|

15 Elisha told him, |Take a bow and some arrows,| and he did so.

16 Then Elisha told the king of Israel, |Aim the bow.| He did so, and Elisha placed his hands on the king's hands.

17 Elisha said, |Open the east window,| and he did so. Elisha said, |Shoot!| and he did so. Elisha said, |This arrow symbolizes the victory the LORD will give you over Syria. You will annihilate Syria in Aphek!|

18 Then Elisha said, |Take the arrows,| and he did so. He told the king of Israel, |Strike the ground!| He struck the ground three times and stopped.

19 The prophet got angry at him and said, |If you had struck the ground five or six times, you would have annihilated Syria! But now, you will defeat Syria only three times.|