1 In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu became king over Israel at Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years. 2 He did evil in the sight of the Loʀᴅ, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, A1 Kin 12:26-33with which he made Israel sin; he did not turn from them. 3 AJudg 2:14So the anger of the Loʀᴅ was kindled against Israel, and He gave them continually into the hand of B2 Kin 12:17Hazael king of Aram, and into the hand of C2 Kin 13:24, 25Ben-hadad the son of Hazael. 4 Then ANum 21:7-9Jehoahaz entreated the favor of the Loʀᴅ, and the Loʀᴅ listened to him; for BEx 3:7, 9; 2 Kin 14:26He saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Aram oppressed them. 5 The Loʀᴅ gave Israel a 1Or saviorA2 Kin 13:25; 14:25, 27; Neh 9:27deliverer, so that they 2Lit went outescaped from under the hand of the Arameans; and the sons of Israel lived in their tents as formerly. 6 Nevertheless they did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, A2 Kin 13:2with which he made Israel sin, but walked in 1Lit itthem; and B1 Kin 16:33the Asherah also remained standing in Samaria. 7 For he left to Jehoahaz of the 1Lit peoplearmy not more than fifty horsemen and ten chariots and 10,000 footmen, for the king of Aram had destroyed them and AAmos 1:3made them like the dust at threshing. 8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did and his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 9 And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria; and Joash his son became king in his place.

10 In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned sixteen years. 11 He did evil in the sight of the Loʀᴅ; he did not turn away from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel sin, but he walked in 1Lit itthem. 12 A2 Kin 13:14-19; 14:8-15Now the rest of the acts of Joash and all that he did and his 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 So Joash slept with his fathers, and Jeroboam sat on his throne; and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

14 When Elisha 1Lit was sick with his sicknessbecame sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash the king of Israel came down to him and wept over 2Lit his facehim and said, “A2 Kin 2:12My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” 15 Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and arrows.” So he 1Lit took to himselftook a bow and arrows. 16 Then he said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” And he put his hand on it, then Elisha laid his hands on the king’s hands. 17 He said, “Open the window toward the east,” and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot!” And he shot. And he said, “The Loʀᴅ’s arrow of victory, even the arrow of victory over Aram; for you will 1Lit smitedefeat the Arameans at A1 Kin 20:26Aphek until you have 2Lit made an end ofdestroyed them.” 18 Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground,” and he struck it three times and 1Lit stoodstopped. 19 So A2 Kin 5:20the 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 would have 1Lit made an end ofdestroyed it. But now you shall strike Aram B2 Kin 13:25only three times.”

20 Elisha died, and they buried him. Now A2 Kin 3:7; 24:2the bands of the Moabites would invade the land in the spring of the year. 21 As they were burying a man, behold, they saw a marauding band; and they cast the man into the grave of Elisha. And when the man 1Lit went and touchedtouched the bones of Elisha he AMatt 27:52revived and stood up on his feet.

22 Now A2 Kin 8:12, 13Hazael king of Aram had oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. 23 But the A2 Kin 14:27Loʀᴅ was gracious to them and B1 Kin 8:28had compassion on them and turned to them because of CGen 13:16, 17; 17:2-5His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them or cast them from His presence until now.

24 When Hazael king of Aram died, Ben-hadad his son became king in his place. 25 Then A2 Kin 10:32, 33; 14:25Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again from the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael the cities which he had taken in war from the hand of Jehoahaz his father. B2 Kin 13:18, 19Three times Joash 1Lit smotedefeated him and recovered the cities of Israel.