2 Kings 13

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.

1In the twenty-third year that Joash son of Ahaziah was king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel in Samaria. He ruled for 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.

2He did what was evil in the LORD’s sight. He followed the same sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had used to lead Israel into sin, and he did not turn away from them.

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.

3So the LORD’s anger burned against Israel. He repeatedly handed them over to Hazael king of Syria and to Hazael’s son, Ben-hadad.

4And Jehoahaz besought Jehovah, and Jehovah hearkened unto him; for he saw the oppression of Israel, how that the king of Syria oppressed them.

4Then Jehoahaz begged the LORD for help, and the LORD listened to him because He saw how terribly the king of Syria was oppressing Israel.

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.

5The LORD provided a savior for Israel, and they escaped the power of the Syrians. Then the people of Israel were able to live in their own homes again, just as they had before.

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.)

6However, they did not stop committing the sins that the family of Jeroboam had led Israel into; they continued to live in those sins. Also, the Asherah pole remained standing 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.

7The king of Syria had destroyed the army of Jehoahaz until only fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers were left. He had crushed them and made them like dust on a threshing floor.

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?

8Everything else Jehoahaz did, including all his accomplishments and his power, is recorded in the Book of the History 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.

9Jehoahaz died and was buried with his ancestors in Samaria. His son Joash became the next king.

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.

10In the thirty-seventh year that Joash was king of Judah, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king of Israel in Samaria. He ruled for 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.

11He did what was evil in the LORD’s sight. He did not turn away from any of the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had used to lead Israel into sin; instead, he continued in them.

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?

12Everything else Joash did, including his power and the war he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, is recorded in the Book of the History 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.

13Joash died and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. Then Jeroboam took his place on the throne.

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!

14Now Elisha became sick with the illness that would soon cause his death. Joash king of Israel went down to visit him and wept over him, saying, 'My father, my father! You are the chariots and the horsemen of Israel!'

15And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows; and he took unto him bow and arrows.

15Elisha said to him, 'Get a bow and some arrows.' So the king got a 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.

16Elisha told the king of Israel, 'Put your hand on the bow.' When the king put his hand on it, Elisha laid his own hands over 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.

17He said, 'Open the window that faces east,' and the king opened it. Elisha said, 'Shoot!' and the king shot. Elisha declared, 'This is the LORD’s arrow of victory! It is an arrow of victory over Syria. You will completely defeat the Syrians at Aphek.'

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.

18Then Elisha said, 'Take the arrows,' and the king took them. Elisha told the king of Israel, 'Strike the ground with them.' The king struck the ground three times and then stopped.

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.

19The man of God was angry with him and said, 'You should have struck the ground five or six times! Then you would have completely destroyed Syria. But now you will only defeat Syria three times.'

20And Elisha died, and they buried him. Now the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.

20Then Elisha died and was buried. At that time, Moabite raiding parties used to invade the land every spring.

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.

21Once, while some Israelites were burying a man, they saw a group of these raiders. They quickly threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. As soon as the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came back to life and stood up on his feet.

22And Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.

22King Hazael of Syria had oppressed Israel during the entire reign 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.

23But the LORD was gracious and had mercy on them. He helped them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He was not willing to destroy them or banish them from His presence yet.

24And Hazael king of Syria died; and Ben-hadad his son reigned in his stead.

24When Hazael king of Syria died, his son Ben-hadad became king in his place.

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.

25Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz took back the cities from Ben-hadad son of Hazael that had been captured from his father, Jehoahaz, in war. Joash defeated him three times and recovered the cities of Israel.