📖 2 Kings — Chapter 13 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
2 Kings 13:1 In the RTthree and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah king of Judah Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years.
2 Kings 13:2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and RTfollowed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.
2 Kings 13:3 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, Rand he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, all their days.
2 Kings 13:4 And RJehoahaz besought the LORD, and the LORD hearkened unto him: for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them.
2 Kings 13:5 (And the LORD gave Israel a Rsaviour, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians: and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents, Tas beforetime.
2 Kings 13:6 Nevertheless they Rdeparted not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but Twalked therein: and there Tremained the grove also in Samaria.)
2 Kings 13:7 Neither did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz but Rfifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like the dust by threshing.
2 Kings 13:8 Now Rthe 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?
2 Kings 13:9 And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they Rburied him in Samaria: and TJoash his son reigned in his stead.
2 Kings 13:10 In the thirty and seventh year of Joash king of Judah began Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned sixteen years.
2 Kings 13:11 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD; Rhe departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin: but he walked therein.
2 Kings 13:12 And Rthe rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might wherewith he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
2 Kings 13:13 And Joash Rslept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
2 Kings 13:14 Now Elisha was Rfallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.
2 Kings 13:15 And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows.
2 Kings 13:16 And he said to the king of Israel, TPut thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and RElisha put his hands upon the king’s hands.
2 Kings 13:17 And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the LORD’s deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in RAphek, till thou have consumed them.
2 Kings 13:18 And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, RSmite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed.
2 Kings 13:19 And Rthe man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.
2 Kings 13:20 And Elisha died, and they Rburied him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.
2 Kings 13:21 And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man Twas let down, and Rtouched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.
2 Kings 13:22 But RHazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.
2 Kings 13:23 And Rthe LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his Tpresence as yet.
2 Kings 13:24 So RHazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in his stead.
2 Kings 13:25 And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz Ttook again out of the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael the cities, which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. RThree times did Joash beat him, and recovered the cities of Israel.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Kings 13:1–13 — Mercy despite continued rebellion
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Jehoahaz follows Jeroboam’s sin, and Syria oppresses Israel. He seeks the LORD, who hears, yet the people do not abandon their sinful worship. Joash succeeds him and follows the same way. Relief should have led to repentance.
Key Truth: Do not mistake mercy for approval of the sin that remains.
Check What You Remember
1. Who was Jehoahaz’s father? (2 Kings 13:1)
Find it in 2 Kings 13:1 (KJV).
2. Who heard his plea? (2 Kings 13:4)
Find it in 2 Kings 13:4 (KJV).
3. Who succeeded Jehoahaz? (2 Kings 13:9)
Find it in 2 Kings 13:9 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Kings 13:14–21 — Elisha’s final sign and death
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The dying Elisha gives Joash a sign of deliverance through arrows. The king strikes the ground only three times and hears that victory will be limited. After Elisha dies, a man touching his bones revives. The extraordinary account is not a ritual readers are instructed to reproduce.
Key Truth: Receive God’s word attentively rather than turning a sign into a formula.
Check What You Remember
1. Which weapons did Elisha request? (2 Kings 13:15)
Find it in 2 Kings 13:15 (KJV).
2. How many times did Joash strike the ground? (2 Kings 13:18)
Find it in 2 Kings 13:18 (KJV).
3. Whose bones did the buried man touch? (2 Kings 13:21)
Find it in 2 Kings 13:21 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Kings 13:22–25 — Covenant mercy and recovered cities
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
God shows compassion because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. After Hazael’s death, Joash defeats Benhadad three times and recovers cities. The closing account connects deliverance with the earlier sign.
Key Truth: Remember God’s enduring mercy rather than claiming every recovery as self-made.
Check What You Remember
1. Which three ancestors are named? (2 Kings 13:23)
Find it in 2 Kings 13:23 (KJV).
2. Who succeeded Hazael? (2 Kings 13:24)
Find it in 2 Kings 13:24 (KJV).
3. How many victories recovered cities? (2 Kings 13:25)
Find it in 2 Kings 13:25 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Exodus 2:24 — This verse also recalls God remembering His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
How can remembered mercy lead you toward a fuller response to God rather than complacency?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. What response follows Jehoahaz’s plea amid oppression?
2. What continuing fault remains despite deliverance?
3. What does the arrow shot eastward signify?
4. Why is Elisha angry after Joash strikes the ground three times?
5. What grounds the LORD’s continuing compassion toward Israel?
Notes
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