1In the three 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 . 2And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah , and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat , wherewith he made Israel to sin ; he departed not therefrom. 3And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel , and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael , continually . 4And Jehoahaz besought Jehovah , and Jehovah hearkened unto him ; for he saw the oppression of Israel , how that the king of Syria oppressed them . 5( And Jehovah gave Israel a saviour , so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians; and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents as beforetime . 6Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam , wherewith he made Israel to sin , but walked therein: and there remained the Asherah also in Samaria .) 7For he left not to Jehoahaz of the people save 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 ? 9And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria : and Joash his son reigned in his stead .
The Prophecy of Elisha's Death
10In 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 . 11And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah ; he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat , wherewith he made Israel to sin ; but he walked therein. 12Now the 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 ? 13And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne : and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel . 14Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died : and Joash the king of Israel came down unto him , and wept over him , and said, My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof ! 15And Elisha said unto him , Take bow and arrows ; and he took unto him bow and arrows . 16And he said to the king of Israel , Put thy hand upon the bow ; and he put his hand upon it . And Elisha laid his hands upon the king ’s hands . 17And he said, Open the window eastward ; and he opened it . Then Elisha said, Shoot ; and he shot . And he said, Jehovah ’s arrow of victory , even the arrow of victory over Syria; for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them . 18And he said, Take the arrows ; and he took them . And he said unto the king of Israel , Smite upon the ground; and he smote thrice , and stayed . 19And the 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 .
The Victory Over Aram
20And Elisha died , and they buried him . Now the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year . 21And it came to pass , as they were burying a man , that , behold , they spied a band ; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha : and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha , he revived , and stood up on his feet . 22And Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz . 23But Jehovah 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 presence as yet . 24And Hazael king of Syria died ; and Ben-hadad his son reigned in his stead . 25And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael the cities which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war . Three times did Joash smite him , and recovered the cities of Israel .