2 Kings 13:25

25 Forsooth Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz, took away [the] cities from the hand of Benhadad, the son of Hazael, which he had taken by the right of battle from the hand of Jehoahaz, his father (which he had taken from the hand, or the power, of his father Jehoahaz, by right of battle); Jehoash smote him three times, and he yielded those cities to Israel.

2 Kings 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.

2 Kings 13:25 In-Context

23 And the Lord had mercy on them, and turned again to them for his covenant, that he had made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and he would not destroy them, neither cast them away utterly, into this present time. (But the Lord had mercy on the Israelites, and returned to them, because of the covenant that he had made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and he would not destroy them, nor throw them utterly away, even into this present time.)

24 And Hazael, king of Syria, died; and Benhadad, his son, reigned for him.

25 Forsooth Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz, took away [the] cities from the hand of Benhadad, the son of Hazael, which he had taken by the right of battle from the hand of Jehoahaz, his father (which he had taken from the hand, or the power, of his father Jehoahaz, by right of battle); Jehoash smote him three times, and he yielded those cities to Israel.