Melachim Bais 13:25

25 And Yehoash Ben Yehoachaz returned and recaptured out of the yad of Ben-Hadad Ben Chazael the towns, which he [Ben-Hadad] had taken out of the yad of Yehoachaz aviv by milchamah (war). Shalosh times did Yoash defeat him, and recovered the towns of Yisroel.

Melachim Bais 13:25 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 13:25

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
Which were in the countries of Gilead and Bashan, and belonged to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, ( 2 Kings 10:33 ) ,

three times did Joash beat him:
in so many pitched battles, but where is not said, no doubt one of them was in Aphek, at least, ( 2 Kings 13:17 ) , and perhaps the other two on the other side Jordan; this agrees with the three times he smote the ground, significant thereof, ( 2 Kings 13:18 )

and recovered the cities of Israel;
those before mentioned; otherwise, if those had not been recovered, not ten tribes, only seven and a half, would have been carried captive by the king of Assyria; whereas Josephus ^F25 says expressly, the ten tribes were carried captive.

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 Antiqu. l. 9. c. 14. sect. 1.

Melachim Bais 13:25 In-Context

23 And Hashem was gracious unto them, and had rachamim on them, and showed regard unto them, because of His brit (covenant) with Avraham, Yitzchak, and Ya’akov, and would not destroy them, neither cast He them from His presence up to now.

24 So Chazael Melech Aram died; and Ben-Hadad bno reigned as melech in his place.

25 And Yehoash Ben Yehoachaz returned and recaptured out of the yad of Ben-Hadad Ben Chazael the towns, which he [Ben-Hadad] had taken out of the yad of Yehoachaz aviv by milchamah (war). Shalosh times did Yoash defeat him, and recovered the towns of Yisroel.