13:2 And he did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD,
and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which
made Israel to a sin; he departed not therefrom.
(a) By worshipping the calves Jeroboam erected in Israel.
13:3 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and
he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria,
and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, all b
[their] days.
(b) While Jehoahaz lived.
13:5 (And the LORD gave Israel a c saviour, so that they went
out from under the hand of the Syrians: and the children of
Israel d dwelt in their tents, as beforetime.
(c) That is, Joash the son of Jehoahaz.
(d) Safely and without danger.
13:6 Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house
of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, [but] walked therein: and
there remained the e grove also in Samaria.)
(e) In which they committed their idolatry, and which the
Lord had commanded to be destroyed (De 16:21).
13:7 Neither did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty
horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for
the king of f Syria had destroyed them, and had made them
like the dust by threshing.
(f) That is, Hazael and Benhadad his son, (2Ki 13:3).
Of Hazael read (2Ki 13:22).
13:10 In the thirty and seventh year of Joash king g of Judah
began Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz to reign over Israel in
Samaria, [and reigned] sixteen years.
(g) His chief purpose is to describe the kingdom of Judah,
and how God performed his promise made to the house of
David: but in the process he shows how Israel was
afflicted and punished for their great idolatry, who
though they had now degenerated, yet God both by
sending them many prophets and various punishments,
called them to him again.
13:14 Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he
died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and
wept over his face, and said, h O my father, my father,
the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.
(h) Thus they used to call the prophets and servants of
God, by whom God blesses his people, as in
(2Ki 2:12) meaning that they prospered their
country more by their prayers than by force of arms.
13:17 And he said, Open the window i eastward. And he opened
[it]. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said,
The arrow of the LORD'S deliverance, and the arrow of
deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians
in Aphek, till thou have consumed [them].
(i) That is, toward Syria: so that he not only prophesied
with words but also confirmed him by these signs that
he would have the victory.
13:19 And the man of God was k wroth with him, and said, Thou
shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou
smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed [it]: whereas now
thou shalt smite Syria [but] thrice.
(k) Because he seemed content to have victory against the
enemies of God two or three times but did not have the
zeal to overcome them continually, and to destroy them
completely.
13:21 And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that,
behold, they spied a band [of men]; and they cast the man
into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let
down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he l revived, and
stood up on his feet.
(l) By this miracle God confirmed the authority of Elisha,
whose doctrine in his life they contemned, that at
this sight they might return and embrace the same
doctrine.
13:23 And the LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on
them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant
with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy
them, neither cast he them from his presence as m yet.
(m) That is, until their sins were come to a full measure
and there was no more hope of amendment.
