2 Kings 13:13
And Jehoash rested with his fathers, and Jeroboam succeeded him on the throne. Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
And Jehoash rested with his fathers,

Jehoash died after a reign in which the Lord granted Israel victories over Syria through the word of Elisha. His death brought an end to one generation of the house of Jehu, yet God’s mercy toward Israel continued despite the nation’s persistent idolatry.

1Ki 22:40 And Ahab rested with his fathers, and his son Ahaziah…
1Ki 14:20 And the length of Jeroboam’s reign was twenty-two years…
1Ki 2:10 Then David rested with his fathers and was buried…

and Jeroboam succeeded him on the throne.

Jeroboam II inherited a weakened kingdom but later expanded Israel’s borders in fulfillment of the Lord’s word through Jonah son of Amittai (2 Kings 14:23–27). The succession preserved the Jehu dynasty, showing the faithfulness of God to His earlier promise that Jehu’s descendants would sit on Israel’s throne to the fourth generation (2 Kings 10:30).

2Ki 14:16 And Jehoash rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria…
1Ki 11:43 And Solomon rested with his fathers and was buried…
2Ki 15:38 And Jotham rested with his fathers and was buried…

Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

Samaria, the capital established by Omri, served as the royal burial place for the kings of the Northern Kingdom. Jehoash received the honor of burial among Israel’s kings, though royal status could not shield him or the nation from the consequences of continued rebellion against the Lord.

2Ki 10:35 And Jehu rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria,…
1Ki 16:28 And Omri rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria,…
1Ki 22:37 So the king died and was brought to Samaria,…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jehoash (Joash)
King of Israel, son of Jehoahaz, who reigned during a tumultuous period marked by conflict with Aram. His reign is noted for both military successes and failures.

2. Jeroboam
Refers to Jeroboam II, the son of Jehoash, who succeeded him as king. His reign was marked by prosperity and expansion for Israel, though it was also a time of spiritual decline.

3. Samaria
The capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, where the kings of Israel were traditionally buried. It was a significant political and cultural center.

4. Rested with his fathers
A Hebrew idiom indicating death and burial, often used in the context of kings to denote their passing and burial in the royal tombs.

5. Kings of Israel
Refers to the lineage of rulers over the Northern Kingdom, distinct from the kings of Judah in the Southern Kingdom.
Teaching Points
The Transience of Earthly Power
Jehoash's death and burial remind us of the temporary nature of earthly power and authority. No matter how significant one's achievements, life is fleeting, and our ultimate legacy is spiritual.

The Importance of Spiritual Leadership
The transition from Jehoash to Jeroboam II highlights the need for leaders who prioritize spiritual integrity alongside political success. Prosperity without righteousness leads to moral decay.

Legacy and Influence
Consider the legacy we leave behind. Jehoash's reign set the stage for Jeroboam II's successes and failures. Our actions and decisions impact future generations.

The Role of Divine Providence
Despite human leadership changes, God's providence continues to unfold. Trust in God's sovereignty, even when earthly leaders change.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the phrase "rested with his fathers" reflect the biblical view of life and death, and how can this perspective influence our daily lives?

2. In what ways can we ensure that our leadership, whether in family, work, or community, aligns with spiritual values rather than just seeking success?

3. How does the prosperity during Jeroboam II's reign, despite spiritual decline, serve as a warning for modern believers?

4. What lessons can we learn from the transition of power from Jehoash to Jeroboam II about preparing the next generation for leadership?

5. How can we trust in God's providence and sovereignty in times of political or personal change, as seen in the transition of kingship in Israel?
Connections to Other Scriptures
2 Kings 14
Provides further context on Jeroboam II's reign, highlighting the political and military achievements that followed Jehoash's death.

2 Chronicles 25
Offers a parallel account of the events during Jehoash's reign, providing additional insights into his interactions with the kings of Judah.

Amos 6
The prophet Amos speaks against the complacency and moral decline during Jeroboam II's reign, offering a prophetic critique of the era's prosperity.
The Reigns of Jehoahaz and Joash, Kings of IsraelC.H. Irwin 2 Kings 13:1-13
The Death of ElishaD. Thomas 2 Kings 13:1-21
Defection2 Kings 13:2-13
Joash and ElishaJ. Orr 2 Kings 13:8-19
People
Ahaziah, Amaziah, Aram, Benhadad, Ben-hadad, Elisha, Hazael, Isaac, Israelites, Jacob, Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jehu, Jeroboam, Joash, Moabites, Nebat, Syrians
Places
Aphek, Samaria, Syria
Topics
Buried, Fathers, Jehoash, Jeroboam, Jerobo'am, Joash, Jo'ash, Kings, Lieth, Rest, Rested, Samaria, Sama'ria, Sat, Slept, Succeeded, Throne
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Kings 13:1-25

     5366   king

Library
The Spirit of Power
'And Elisha said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands.'--2 KINGS xiii. 16. This is part of one of the strangest narratives in the Old Testament. Elisha is on his deathbed, 'sick of the sickness' wherewith he 'should die.' A very different scene, that close sick-chamber, from the open plain beyond Jordan from which Elijah had gone up; a very different way of passing from life by wasting sickness than by fiery
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Elijah's Translation and Elisha's Deathbed
And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.'--2 KINGS ii. 12. '...And Joash, the King of Israel, came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said. O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof.'--2 KINGS xiii. U. The scenes and the speakers are strangely different in these two incidents. The one scene is that mysterious translation on the further bank of the Jordan, when a mortal was swept up to heaven in a
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire from 745 to 722 B. C.
TIGLATH-PILESER III. AND THE ORGANISATION OF THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE FROM 745 to 722 B.C. FAILURE OF URARTU AND RE-CONQUEST Of SYRIA--EGYPT AGAIN UNITED UNDER ETHIOPIAN AUSPICES--PIONKHI--THE DOWNFALL OF DAMASCUS, OF BABYLON, AND OF ISRAEL. Assyria and its neighbours at the accession of Tiglath-pileser III.: progress of the Aramaeans in the basin of the Middle Tigris--Urartu and its expansion into the north of Syria--Damascus and Israel--Vengeance of Israel on Damascus--Jeroboam II.--Civilisation
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7

Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.),
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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