In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years. 2He did that which was evil in the sight of YAHWEH1, and followed the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin; he did not turn away from it. 3The anger of YAHWEH was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Ben Hadad son of Hazael, continually. 4Jehoahaz pleaded with YAHWEH, and YAHWEH listened to him; for he saw the oppression of Israel, how that the king of Syria oppressed them. 5YAHWEH gave Israel a deliverer, so that they escaped from under the hand of the Syrians; and Bani-Israel lived in their tents as before. 6Nevertheless they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, with which he made Israel to sin, but walked in them. Also the Asherah pole remained in Samaria. 7For he left of the army of Jehoahaz only fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria destroyed them, and made them like the dust in threshing. 8Now 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? 9Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Jehoash his son reigned in his place.
10In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned sixteen years. 11He did that which was evil in the sight of YAHWEH; he did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin; but he walked in them. 12Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash, 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? 13Jehoash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat on his throne: and Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
14Now Al-Yasa2 had become sick with the illness from which he died: and Jehoash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over him, and said, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!”
15Al-Yasa said to him, “Take a bow and some arrows;” and he took a bow and arrows. 16He said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow;” and he put his hand on it. Al-Yasa laid his hands on the king’s hands. 17He said, “Open the window eastward;” and he opened it. Then Al-Yasa said, “Shoot;” and he shot. He said, “YAHWEH’s arrow of victory, even the arrow of victory over Syria; for you shall strike the Syrians in Aphek, until you have consumed them.”
18He said, “Take the arrows;” and he took them. He said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground;” and he struck 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 Syria until you had consumed it, but now you shall strike Syria but three times.”
20Al-Yasa died, and they buried him.
Now the bands of the Moabites invaded the land in the spring of the year. 21It happened, as they were burying a man, that behold, they spied a band of raiders; and they threw the man into the tomb of Al-Yasa: and as soon as the man touched the bones of Al-Yasa, he revived, and stood on his feet.
22Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. 23But YAHWEH was gracious to them, and had compassion on them, and had respect to them, because of his covenant with Ibrahim, Ishaq, and Yaqub, and would not destroy them, neither did he throw them from his presence as yet.
24Hazael king of Syria died; and Ben Hadad his son reigned in his place. 25Jehoash son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Ben Hadad son of Hazael the cities which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times did Jehoash strike him, and recovered the cities of Israel.
- 13:2 YAHWEH, God’s personal Name revealed to Prophet Musa in the Taurat, Exodus 3:15: ‘God said moreover to Musa, “You shall tell Bani-Israel this, ‘YAHWEH, the God of your fathers, the God of Ibrahim, the God of Ishaq, and the God of Yaqub, has sent me to you.’ This is my Name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered to all generations.”’ ↩︎
- 13:14 Al-Yasa, this Arabic name is derived from the Hebrew name Elisha, which means “My God is salvation.” ↩︎