In this chapter we find the focus returning to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Jehoahaz reigned from 814 to 798 B.C. When we read the 2 Kings 13:1, it tells us that he began his reign in the twenty-third year of Joash in the south, which is a total of seventeen years. This also means that he reigned until the thirty-ninth or fortieth year of Joash.
However, when read 2 Kings 13:10, the text tells us that he died and his son, Jehoash took over as king of Israel in the thirty-seventh year of Joash. This tells us that 2 Kings 13:1, is referring to his join reign in his early years but 2 Kings 13:10, is referring to the total number of years of his reign.
Adam Clarke in his commentary says the following concerning the chronology.
‘The chronology here is thus accounted for; Jehoahaz began his reign at the commencement of the twenty-third year of Joash, and reigned seventeen years, fourteen alone, and three years with his son Joash; the fourteenth year was but just begun.’
Jehoahaz ‘did evil in the eyes of the Lord’, because he followed the sins of Jeroboam, that is idolatry. He wasn’t able to lead Israel, and as a result he couldn’t fend off Hazael, king of Aram and Ben-Hadad. Jehoahaz sought the Lord’s favour and received it in the form of a deliverer.
It appears that Hazael had taken the cities, and so, Israel now lived in their own homes, probably tents, as they did before. Hazael now controlled the cities, while Israel lived in the rural areas.
Notice that the ‘Asherah pole’ is mention as still standing in Samaria, this tells us how pagan Samaria was, this city had a golden calf just like Dan and Bethel, Hosea 8:6.
Hazael totally destroyed the army of Jehoahaz, he was merciless and brutal. He made Israel ‘like the dust at threshing time’, is a metaphor to describe just how merciless and brutal Hazael was, Amos 1:4.
The idea being conveyed here is that Hazael made the defeated soldiers lie down, and then Hazael’s army would drive iron threshing instruments over them to kill them.
Adam Clarke in his commentary says the following.
‘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 years, which include the years he governed conjointly with his father.’
Elisha had become seriously ill, and when Jehoash king of Israel went to see him, he wept and called out ‘my father, my father’, which shows us the great respect he had for Elisha. Elisha prophecies for the very last time, in this prophecy he speaks about Israel’s confrontation with Aram.
Notice that Elisha asks him to shoot an arrow towards the east, which was symbolic of Israel’s victory over Aphek. When Jehoash is asked to strike the ground, the number of numbers he struck the ground with his arrows would signify how many times he would strike Aram. Sadly, he didn’t strike the ground more than three times, which meant that he wouldn’t be able to complete destroy the threat of Aram.
This was the last recorded prophecy of Elisha, and as we’re going to read next, it was exactly followed just as he said it would be.
After the death and burial of Elisha, the Moabites would come and raid the countries farms for food. The Israelites were burying a man, but when they saw the Moabite raiders, they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the man’s body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came back to life.
The reason for this miracle, was possibly to reassure Jehoash, that God was going to bring about the fulfilment of Elisha’s last prophecy, concerning victory over Aram.
Because of God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Lord was gracious and spared Israel at this time in their apostasy. It’s important to note that they weren’t spared because of anything they had done; they were spared because of God’s promise to their forefathers.
We read how Elisha’s last prophecy came into fulfilment as Jehoash has victory over Aram three times. It’s also clear that these victories took place after Hazael had died, because Israel was able to repossess the cities from Ben-Hadad, which Hazael had earlier taken, 2 Kings 13:5. The Ben-Hadad mentioned here would be Ben-Hadad III, the son of Hazael.
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."