2 Kings 13
CHAPTER 13
2 Kings 13:1-7 . JEHOAHAZ'S WICKED REIGN OVER ISRAEL.
1-3. Jehoahaz . . . reigned seventeen years--Under his government, which pursued the policy of his predecessors regarding the support of the calf-worship, Israel's apostasy from the true God became greater and more confirmed than in the time of his father Jehu. The national chastisement, when it came, was consequently the more severe and the instruments employed by the Lord in scourging the revolted nation were Hazael and his son and general Ben-hadad, in resisting whose successive invasions the Israelitish army was sadly reduced and weakened. In the extremity of his distress, Jehoahaz besought the Lord, and was heard, not on his own account ( Psalms 66:18 , Proverbs 1:28 , 15:8 ), but that of the ancient covenant with the patriarchs ( 2 Kings 13:23 ).
4. he saw the oppression of Israel--that is, commiserated the fallen condition of His chosen people. The divine honor and the interests of true religion required that deliverance should be granted them to check the triumph of the idolatrous enemy and put an end to their blasphemous taunts that God had forsaken Israel ( Deuteronomy 32:27 , Psalms 12:4 ).
5. a saviour--This refers neither to some patriotic defender nor some signal victory, but to the deliverance obtained for Israel by the two successors of Jehoahaz, namely, Joash, who regained all the cities which the Syrians had taken from his father ( 2 Kings 13:25 ); and Jeroboam, who restored the former boundaries of Israel ( 2 Kings 14:25 ).
6. there remained the grove--Asherah--the idol set up by Ahab ( 1 Kings 16:33 ), which ought to have been demolished ( Deuteronomy 7:5 ).
7. made them like the dust in threshing--Threshing in the East is performed in the open air upon a level plot of ground, daubed over with a covering to prevent, as much as possible, the earth, sand, or gravel from rising; a great quantity of them all, notwithstanding this precaution, must unavoidably be taken up with the grain; at the same time the straw is shattered to pieces. Hence it is a most significant figure, frequently employed by Orientals to describe a state of national suffering, little short of extermination ( Isaiah 21:10 , Micah 4:12 , Jeremiah 51:33 ). The figure originated in a barbarous war custom, which Hazael literally followed ( Amos 1:3 Amos 1:4 ; compare 18:31 , Judges 8:7 ).
2 Kings 13:8-25 . JOASH SUCCEEDS HIM.
8. his might--This is particularly noticed in order to show that the grievous oppression from foreign enemies, by which the Israelites were ground down, was not owing to the cowardice or imbecility of their king, but solely to the righteous and terrible judgment of God for their foul apostasy.
12, 13. his might wherewith he fought against reign occurs rather early, and is again repeated in the account given of the reign of the king of Judah ( 2 Kings 14:15 ).
14-19. Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died--Every man's death is occasioned by some disease, and so was Elisha's. But in intimating it, there seems a contrast tacitly made between him and his prophetic predecessor, who did not die.
Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face--He visited him where he was lying ill of this mortal sickness, and expressed deep sorrow, not from the personal respect he bore for the prophet, but for the incalculable loss his death would occasion to the kingdom.
my father, my father! seem to have been a complimentary phrase applied to one who was thought an eminent guardian and deliverer of his country. The particular application of them to Elisha, who, by his counsels and prayer, had obtained many glorious victories for Israel, shows that the king possessed some measure of faith and trust, which, though weak, was accepted, and called forth the prophet's dying benediction.