2 Kings 13:23

23 But the LORD was gracious to Israel and had compassion on them, turning back to them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; he didn't want to destroy them or throw them out of his presence until now.

2 Kings 13:23 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 13:23

And the Lord was gracious to them
To Israel, notwithstanding their apostasy from him, and the idolatry of the calves they were guilty of:

and had compassion on them;
being in oppression and distress:

and had respect unto them;
looked upon them with an eye of pity and mercy:

because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob;
made so long ago he still remembered:

and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as
yet;
or suffered them to be carried captive into another land, as he afterwards did in the times of Hoshea.

2 Kings 13:23 In-Context

21 Now it happened once that while a man was being buried, the people at the funeral suddenly saw a raiding party. They threw the body into Elisha's tomb and ran off. When the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet!

22 Aram's King Hazael had oppressed Israel throughout Jehoahaz's rule.

23 But the LORD was gracious to Israel and had compassion on them, turning back to them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; he didn't want to destroy them or throw them out of his presence until now.

24 Aram's King Hazael died. His son Ben-hadad succeeded him as king.

25 Then Jehoahaz's son Joash recaptured from Hazael's son Ben-hadad those cities that Hazael had won in battle from Joash's father Jehoahaz. Joash attacked Ben-hadad three times and took back these Israelite cities.