2 Kings 13

In 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.

In the 23rd year of King Joash's rule, Jehoahaz, Jehu's son, took the throne in Samaria, Israel, and ruled for 17 years.

And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.

He acted wickedly, displeasing God, and mirrored the sinful ways of Jeroboam, leading Israel astray. He never turned away from this path.

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, all their days.

God's anger burned against Israel, so He handed them over to Hazael, the Syrian king, and his son Benhadad, for a long time.

And Jehoahaz besought the LORD, and the LORD hearkened unto him: for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them.

Jehoahaz pleaded with God, and God listened. He saw Israel's suffering under the harsh rule of the Syrian king.

(And the LORD 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.

The Lord, in His mercy, gifted Israel with a savior. This allowed them to escape the oppressive grip of the Syrians. The children of Israel then returned to live peacefully in their tents, just as they used to.

Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked therein: and there remained the grove also in Samaria.)

Despite knowing better, they continued to follow the sinful ways of Jeroboam's house, which led Israel astray. They stubbornly persisted in this path, and the sinful grove in Samaria remained untouched.

Neither did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty 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.

Jehoahaz was left with only fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers. The Syrian king had decimated his people, reducing them to nothing more than dust scattered in the wind.

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?

Isn't every deed, every display of strength by Jehoahaz, documented in the historical records of Israel's kings?

And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his stead.

Jehoahaz joined his ancestors in eternal rest, laid to peace in Samaria. His son, Joash, courageously took up the mantle of leadership in his place.

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.

In the 37th year of King Joash's rule in Judah, Jehoash, son of Jehoahaz, started his reign in Israel's Samaria. His rule lasted for 16 years.

And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD; he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin: but he walked therein.

He acted wickedly, displeasing God deeply. He didn't turn away from the sinful path of Jeroboam, son of Nebat, who led Israel astray. Instead, he continued down that same path.

And 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?

Isn't the full story of Joash's deeds, his strength, and his battles against King Amaziah of Judah recorded in the historical records of Israel's kings?

And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

Joash joined his ancestors in eternal rest, while Jeroboam claimed his throne. Joash was laid to rest in Samaria, among the past kings of Israel.

Now Elisha was fallen 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.

Elisha was gravely ill, on the brink of death. Joash, the king of Israel, visited him, tears streaming down his face. He cried out, "Oh, my father, my father! You are the strength and backbone of Israel!"

And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows.

Elisha instructed him, "Grab your bow and arrows." Without hesitation, he picked up his bow and arrows.

And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king’s hands.

He told the king of Israel, "Grasp the bow." As the king held it, Elisha gently placed his hands over the king's, guiding him.

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 Aphek, till thou have consumed them.

Elisha instructed, "Unveil the eastern window." It was done. "Fire your arrow," he commanded, and the arrow was released. He declared, "This is God's arrow of liberation, the symbol of our victory over Syria. You will defeat the Syrians in Aphek, until none remain."

And 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.

He commanded, "Grasp the arrows." Obediently, he did. Then, he instructed the king of Israel, "Strike the ground." The king struck the ground three times, then paused.

And 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 holy man was deeply upset with him, saying, "You should have struck five or six times; then you would have completely defeated Syria. But now, you'll only defeat Syria three times."

And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.

Elisha breathed his last, and they laid him to rest. As the new year dawned, the Moabite marauders swept across the land.

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 was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.

As they were laying a man to rest, they noticed a group approaching. In haste, they placed the man in Elisha's tomb. The moment the man touched Elisha's remains, he miraculously came back to life and stood up.

But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.

Hazael, the Syrian king, relentlessly tormented Israel throughout Jehoahaz's reign.

And the 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 presence as yet.

God showed them kindness and compassion, honoring His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He chose not to destroy them or cast them away from His presence, not yet.

So Hazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in his stead.

The Syrian King Hazael passed away, and his son Benhadad took over his throne.

And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took 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. Three times did Joash beat him, and recovered the cities of Israel.

Jehoash, Jehoahaz's son, bravely reclaimed the cities that Benhadad, Hazael's son, had seized from his father through war. Joash defeated him thrice, restoring the cities of Israel.