II Kings 13:10-25
“In the thirty and seventh year of Joash king of Judah began Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned sixteen years. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD; he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin: but he walked therein.” (II Kings 13:10-11)
About two and a half or three years before Joash, king of Judah died, Jehoahaz’ son Joash or Jehoash became king of Israel. Like his father and grandfather, he practiced the corrupted form of Judaism Jeroboam had started, worshipping the golden calves, in violation of God’s law.
“And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might wherewith he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.” (II Kings 13:12-13)
Though he did evil, Joash was not as wicked as other kings of Israel, nor did he do any great things that really stand out. Scripture only records his war with Amaziah as part of Amaziah’s story, and his contact with Elisha shortly before his death.
“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, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.” (II Kings 13:14)
About fifty years before, Elisha had anointed Jehu king of Israel. Though Jehu and his family practiced idolatry the entire time, they still held Elisha in high esteem. Learning that Elisha was dying, Joash was upset at the thought of losing one who had played such an important part for over sixty years. What would Israel do when he was gone and there was no one to take his place?
“And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows. And he 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. And he said, Open the window 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.” (II Kings 13:15-17)
Elisha had Joash shoot an arrow out his window and described it as the deliverance from Syria, making it clear that deliverance would come from his leadership rather on Elisha’s power. It would be up to Joash to fight until Syria’s power was broken.
“And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground.
And he smote thrice, and stayed.
And the man of God was 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.” (II Kings 13:18-19)
To drive home his point that the results were dependent on Jehoash’s leadership, Elisha had him take a handful of arrows and hit the ground repeatedly with them. Elisha was upset that Joash quit hitting after the third strike knowing that he was to fight until Syria was destroyed. Because he didn’t take it seriously, he would only attack Syria enough to get them to stop temporarily.
"And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. 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 revived, and stood up on his feet.” (II Kings 13:20-21)
When Elijah ascended into heaven, Elisha he had asked for a double portion of the Spirit of God to be on him. When he died more than sixty years later, Moabite raiders had invaded and one of their men had been killed. Seeing a group if Israelite men, they dumped the dead man’s body in Elisha’s sepulchre to get rid of it. Even after his death, there was still enough of God’s power to raise a man from the dead. Can’t you just imagine the Moabites shock when the dead man jumped up and started trying to get out?
“But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. 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 yet.” (II Kings 13:22-23)
Jehoahaz’s seventeen year reign, the Syrians had maintained control, limiting Jehoahaz to a standing army of ten thousand and only leaving him a token force of ten chariots and fifty cavalry men. Had it not been for God’s promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Israel would have been rubbed out.
“Hazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in his stead.
And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael the cities, which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times did Joash beat him, and recovered the cities of Israel.” (II Kings 13:24-25)
Just as Elisha had prophesied, Jehoash was able to defeat Hazael’s son and free the Israelite cities Hazael had captured. Three times Jehoshaphat was victorious, and Benhadad withdrew so Jehoshaphat didn’t continue the fight and completely break their power. As a result, almost three thousand years later, Syria is still threatening Israel.
Today there are many like Joash, who, although they don’t serve God themselves still respect and value those who have served God. Like Joash, they are concerned what will happen when the old ones are no longer there to se that things are done right. They need to understand that what happens in the future will depend on whether they step up to lead in the proper way or not. Unless they make a full commitment to do whole job, their efforts will only produce temporary relief.
“In the thirty and seventh year of Joash king of Judah began Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned sixteen years. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD; he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin: but he walked therein.” (II Kings 13:10-11)
About two and a half or three years before Joash, king of Judah died, Jehoahaz’ son Joash or Jehoash became king of Israel. Like his father and grandfather, he practiced the corrupted form of Judaism Jeroboam had started, worshipping the golden calves, in violation of God’s law.
“And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might wherewith he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.” (II Kings 13:12-13)
Though he did evil, Joash was not as wicked as other kings of Israel, nor did he do any great things that really stand out. Scripture only records his war with Amaziah as part of Amaziah’s story, and his contact with Elisha shortly before his death.
“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, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.” (II Kings 13:14)
About fifty years before, Elisha had anointed Jehu king of Israel. Though Jehu and his family practiced idolatry the entire time, they still held Elisha in high esteem. Learning that Elisha was dying, Joash was upset at the thought of losing one who had played such an important part for over sixty years. What would Israel do when he was gone and there was no one to take his place?
“And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows. And he 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. And he said, Open the window 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.” (II Kings 13:15-17)
Elisha had Joash shoot an arrow out his window and described it as the deliverance from Syria, making it clear that deliverance would come from his leadership rather on Elisha’s power. It would be up to Joash to fight until Syria’s power was broken.
“And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground.
And he smote thrice, and stayed.
And the man of God was 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.” (II Kings 13:18-19)
To drive home his point that the results were dependent on Jehoash’s leadership, Elisha had him take a handful of arrows and hit the ground repeatedly with them. Elisha was upset that Joash quit hitting after the third strike knowing that he was to fight until Syria was destroyed. Because he didn’t take it seriously, he would only attack Syria enough to get them to stop temporarily.
"And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. 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 revived, and stood up on his feet.” (II Kings 13:20-21)
When Elijah ascended into heaven, Elisha he had asked for a double portion of the Spirit of God to be on him. When he died more than sixty years later, Moabite raiders had invaded and one of their men had been killed. Seeing a group if Israelite men, they dumped the dead man’s body in Elisha’s sepulchre to get rid of it. Even after his death, there was still enough of God’s power to raise a man from the dead. Can’t you just imagine the Moabites shock when the dead man jumped up and started trying to get out?
“But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. 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 yet.” (II Kings 13:22-23)
Jehoahaz’s seventeen year reign, the Syrians had maintained control, limiting Jehoahaz to a standing army of ten thousand and only leaving him a token force of ten chariots and fifty cavalry men. Had it not been for God’s promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Israel would have been rubbed out.
“Hazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in his stead.
And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael the cities, which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times did Joash beat him, and recovered the cities of Israel.” (II Kings 13:24-25)
Just as Elisha had prophesied, Jehoash was able to defeat Hazael’s son and free the Israelite cities Hazael had captured. Three times Jehoshaphat was victorious, and Benhadad withdrew so Jehoshaphat didn’t continue the fight and completely break their power. As a result, almost three thousand years later, Syria is still threatening Israel.
Today there are many like Joash, who, although they don’t serve God themselves still respect and value those who have served God. Like Joash, they are concerned what will happen when the old ones are no longer there to se that things are done right. They need to understand that what happens in the future will depend on whether they step up to lead in the proper way or not. Unless they make a full commitment to do whole job, their efforts will only produce temporary relief.
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