Jehoahaz Reigns over Israel
1In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king over Israel in Samaria, reigning seventeen years. 2He did what was evil in Yahweh’s eyes and followed the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had led Israel to sin — he did not turn away from them. 3So the anger of Yahweh burned against Israel, and he gave them repeatedly into the hand of Hazael, king of Aram, and of Ben-hadad son of Hazael. 4Then Jehoahaz sought the favor of Yahweh, and Yahweh listened to him, for he saw the oppression Israel was suffering under the king of Aram. 5Yahweh gave Israel a deliverer, and they escaped from under the power of Aram, and the Israelites lived in their homes as before. 6Nevertheless, they did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who had led Israel to sin, but continued in them, and even the Asherah pole remained standing in Samaria. 7For nothing was left of Jehoahaz’s army except fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers, since the king of Aram had destroyed the rest and made them like dust to be trampled. 8The rest of the acts of Jehoahaz — all that he did and his might — are they not written in the Annals of the Kings of Israel? 9Jehoahaz rested with his fathers; they buried him in Samaria, and Jehoash his son succeeded him as king.
Jehoash Reigns over Israel
10Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria in the thirty-seventh year of Joash, king of Judah, and his reign lasted sixteen years. 11He did evil in the eyes of Yahweh, never turning away from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had led Israel to sin — he continued in them. 12And the rest of the acts of Jehoash, all that he did, and his might, including his war against Amaziah, king of Judah — are they not written in the Annals of the Kings of Israel? 13Jehoash slept with his fathers, and Jeroboam succeeded him on the throne. Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
The Death of Elisha
14Now Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die. Jehoash, king of Israel, went down to him, wept over him, and said, “My father, my father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” 15Elisha said to him, “Get a bow and some arrows.” So he got a bow and arrows. 16Then he said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” He put his hand on it, and Elisha laid his hands on the king’s hands. 17“Open the window facing east,” he said, and he opened it. “Shoot,” said Elisha, and he shot. Elisha declared, “This is Yahweh’s arrow of victory — the arrow of victory over Aram! You will strike down the Arameans at Aphek until you have destroyed them.” 18Then Elisha said, “Take the arrows,” and he took them. He told the king of Israel, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped. 19The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck five or six times — then you would have struck down Aram until you had destroyed it. But now you will strike Aram only three times.” 20Then Elisha died and was buried. Now bands of Moabite raiders used to invade the land every spring. 21Once, as some men were burying a man, they suddenly saw a raiding band and threw the man into Elisha’s tomb. As soon as the man touched Elisha’s bones, he came back to life and stood up on his feet.
Israel Recovers Its Cities
22Hazael, king of Aram, oppressed Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz. 23But Yahweh was gracious to them, had compassion on them, and turned toward them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He was unwilling to destroy them or banish them from his presence, even to this day. 24When Hazael, king of Aram, died, his son Ben-hadad reigned in his place. 25And Jehoash son of Jehoahaz recaptured from Ben-hadad son of Hazael the towns he had taken in war from Jehoahaz his father. Joash defeated him three times and recovered the towns of Israel.
