1 In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years. 2 He did evil in the sight of the LORD and followed the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin. He did not turn away from them. 3 So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Aram and into the hand of Ben-hadad son of Hazael throughout that time. 4 But Jehoahaz pleaded with the LORD, and the LORD listened to him, for he saw Israel’s oppression, how the king of Aram was oppressing them. 5 The LORD gave Israel a deliverer, and they escaped from Aram’s rule. The people of Israel lived in their tents as before. 6 Nevertheless, they did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who had caused Israel to sin, but continued in them. The Asherah pole also remained standing in Samaria. 7 No more than fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers were left to Jehoahaz, for the king of Aram had destroyed them and made them like dust at threshing. 8 As for the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, all that he did, and his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 9 Jehoahaz rested with his ancestors, and they buried him in Samaria. His son Joash reigned in his place.

10 In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned sixteen years. 11 He did evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not turn away from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin, but continued in them. 12 As for the rest of the acts of Joash, all that he did, and the might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 13 Joash rested with his ancestors, and Jeroboam sat on his throne. Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

14 Now Elisha had become sick with the illness from which he would die. Joash king of Israel came down to him and wept over him, saying, “My father, my father! The chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” 15 Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and arrows.” So he took a bow and arrows. 16 Then he said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” So he put his hand on it, and Elisha placed his hands over the king’s hands. 17 He said, “Open the window toward the east.” So he opened it. Elisha said, “Shoot!” And he shot. Then he said, “The LORD’s arrow of victory, an arrow of victory over Aram! You will strike Aram at Aphek until you have destroyed them.” 18 Then he said, “Take the arrows.” So he took them. He said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped. 19 The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck five or six times. Then you would have struck Aram until you had destroyed them. But now you will strike Aram only three times.”

20 Elisha died, and they buried him. Moabite raiding parties used to enter the land at the turn of the year. 21 Once, while some men were burying a man, they saw a raiding party. They threw the man into Elisha’s tomb. When the man came into contact with Elisha’s bones, he came to life and stood on his feet.

22 Now Hazael king of Aram had oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. 23 But the LORD was gracious to them, had compassion on them, and turned toward them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He was not willing to destroy them, and he had not cast them out of his presence up to that time. 24 Hazael king of Aram died, and his son Ben-hadad reigned in his place. 25 Jehoash son of Jehoahaz recovered from Ben-hadad son of Hazael the cities that had been taken in war from his father Jehoahaz. Joash defeated him three times and recovered the cities of Israel.