II Kings Chapter 13
Please read: II Kings 13 –
Right in the middle of this chapter that records the succession of the kings of the northern kingdom is a miracle that is so amazing but so short in description one could easily miss it. The miracle of a dead man coming back to life when his body was placed on top of the bones of the prophet Elisha. There was nothing magical about Elisha’s bones, but Bible scholars believe this was another way of showing that Elisha was a man who was wholly committed to following God. This miracle was a testament to the faith that Elisha had in God.
During Elisha’s life God had empowered him to complete many miracles, including bringing a little dead boy back to life for a friend of Elisha. And the only conclusion that we can draw from this miracle of a dead man coming back to life is that God is God and He does what He wills.
Another example of God is God is the manner in which Elisha’s life ended. He was not carried up into heaven in a chariot like his predecessor Elijah, but he had a sickness and the sickness ended his life. We don’t always have the answers as to why God does things the way that He does, but that honestly should increase our faith in Him all the more. We can’t put our own expectations on Him – He is God.
Let's Reflect
1. From previous chapter we learned that Jehu who had been the commander of the northern army became king over Israel. His son Jehoahaz was the next king. He reigned for 17 years. According to scripture Jehoahaz did not follow after God in fact he also led the people in idol worship and sin. According to verse 3 what characterized the reign of Jehoahaz?
2. At some point Jehoahaz repented to the LORD and asked for His help. God heard His prayer of humility and sent an unnamed savior (or we could say hero) to deliver the people from the Syrians. Did this relief of the attacks of Syria cause the people to change their ways of living?
3. There is more to the story of Jehoahaz that we will read in the book of Chronicles. His son was the next to take the throne. Jehoash (or Joash) his son began his reign. How many years was he the king of Israel?
4. Verses 10-13 makes it seem that we will not learn much about this son Joash other than he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. However, when we read the next verses we learn that he went to visit the sick prophet Elisha. What did Joash do in the presence of Elisha because he was afraid Elisha was going to die and Israel would lose their only appeal for strength and wisdom when it came to attacks on his kingdom?
5. As in many other instances when Elijah had completed a miracle, he asked the person to do something to show some measure of faith in God. This particular time Elisha asked the king to shoot arrows out a window facing East (toward Syria). Kings often shot the first arrow or slung their sword into the air to show that it was time for their army to charge towards the enemy. How many arrows did Joash shoot out the window at the ground?
6. Elisha was angry that the king hadn’t shown more faith and shot a bunch of arrows. What did Elisha tell the king about what would happen since he only shot 3 arrows?
7. According to verse 21 what happened to the dead man that was put in the same grave as Elisha? And do you wonder if maybe Elisha’s grave was unmarked?
8. The last verse tells us that King Jehoash (or Joash) was continually attacked by Syria, but according to verse 25 how many times was he successful against Syria?
9. There is one other little fact about King Jehoash that we need to look at. This fact is found in verse 12. This king also fought against whom causing a civil war?
“This war with Amaziah may be seen in ample detail in 2 Chronicles 25; it ended in the total defeat of Amaziah who was taken prisoner by Joash, and afterwards slain in a conspiracy at Lachish.” [Clarke]
