13:1 In the twenty-third year of the reign of Judah’s King Joash, son of Ahaziah, Jehu’s son Jehoahaz became king over Israel. He reigned in Samaria for 17 years. 13:2 He did evil before¹ the LORD. He continued in² the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat who had encouraged Israel to sin; he did not repudiate those sins.³ 13:3 The LORD was furious with⁴ Israel and he handed them over to Hazael king of Syria and to Hazael’s son Ben Hadad for many years.⁵

13:4 Jehoahaz asked for the LORD’s mercy⁶ and the LORD responded favorably,⁷ for he saw that Israel was oppressed by the king of Syria.⁸ 13:5 The LORD provided a deliverer⁹ for Israel and they were freed from Syria’s power.¹⁰ The Israelites once more lived in security.¹¹ 13:6 But they did not repudiate¹² the sinful ways of the family¹³ of Jeroboam, who encouraged Israel to sin; they continued in those sins.¹⁴ There was even an Asherah pole standing in Samaria. 13:7 Jehoahaz had no army left,¹⁵ except for 50 horsemen, ten chariots, and 10,000 foot soldiers. The king of Syria had destroyed his troops¹⁶ and trampled on them like dust.¹⁷

13:8 The rest of the events of Jehoahaz’s reign, including all his accomplishments and successes, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.¹⁸ 13:9 Jehoahaz passed away¹⁹ and was buried in Samaria. His son Joash replaced him as king.

13:10 In the thirty-seventh year of King Joash’s reign over Judah, Jehoahaz’s son Jehoash became king over Israel. He reigned in Samaria for 16 years. 13:11 He did evil before²⁰ the LORD. He did not repudiate²¹ the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat who encouraged Israel to sin; he continued in those sins.²² 13:12 The rest of the events of Joash’s²³ reign, including all his accomplishments and his successful war with Amaziah king of Judah, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.²⁴ 13:13 Joash passed away²⁵ and Jeroboam succeeded him on the throne.²⁶ Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

13:14 Now Elisha had a terminal illness.²⁷ Joash king of Israel went down to visit him.²⁸ He wept before him and said, “My father, my father! The chariot²⁹ and horsemen of Israel!”³⁰ 13:15 Elisha told him, “Grab a bow and some arrows,” and he did so.³¹ 13:16 Then Elisha told the king of Israel, “Aim the bow.”³² He did so,³³ and Elisha placed his hands on the king’s hands. 13:17 Elisha said, “Open the east window,” and he did so.³⁴ Elisha said, “Shoot,” and he did so.³⁵ Elisha said, “This arrow symbolizes the victory the LORD will give you over Syria.³⁶ You will annihilate Syria in Aphek.”³⁷ 13:18 Then Elisha said, “Take the arrows,” and he did so.³⁸ He told the king of Israel, “Strike the ground.” He struck the ground three times and stopped. 13:19 The prophet got mad at him and said, “If you had struck the ground five or six times, you would annihilate Syria.³⁹ But now, you will defeat Syria just three times.”

13:20 Elisha died and was buried. Moabite raiding parties invaded the land at the beginning of the year.⁴⁰ 13:21 One day some men⁴¹ were burying a man, when they spotted⁴² a raiding party. So they threw the dead man into Elisha’s tomb. When the corpse touched Elisha’s bones, the dead man came to life and stood to his feet.

13:22 Now Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel throughout Jehoahaz’s reign. 13:23 But the LORD had mercy on them and felt sorry for them.⁴³ He extended his favor to them⁴⁴ because of the promise he had made⁴⁵ to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He has been unwilling to destroy them or remove them from his presence to this very day.⁴⁶ 13:24 When Hazael king of Syria died, His son Ben Hadad replaced him as king. 13:25 Jehoahaz’s son Jehoash took back from⁴⁷ Ben Hadad son of Hazael the cities that he had taken from his father Jehoahaz in war. Joash defeated him three times and recovered the Israelite cities.