2 Kings 13:25

25 and Jehoash son of Jehoahaz turneth and taketh the cities out of the hand of Ben-Hadad son of Hazael that he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father in war; three times hath Joash smitten him, and he bringeth back the cities of 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 Jehovah doth favour them, and pity them, and turn unto them, for the sake of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and hath not been willing to destroy them, nor to cast them from His presence as yet.

24 And Hazael king of Aram dieth, and reign doth Ben-Hadad his son in his stead,

25 and Jehoash son of Jehoahaz turneth and taketh the cities out of the hand of Ben-Hadad son of Hazael that he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father in war; three times hath Joash smitten him, and he bringeth back the cities of Israel.