2 Kings 13:23

23 But the LORD was gracious and merciful to the people of Israel, and they were not totally destroyed. He pitied them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And to this day he still has not completely destroyed them or banished them from his presence.

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 Once when some Israelites were burying a man, they spied a band of these raiders. So they hastily threw the corpse into the tomb of Elisha and fled. But as soon as the body touched Elisha’s bones, the dead man revived and jumped to his feet!

22 King Hazael of Aram had oppressed Israel during the entire reign of King Jehoahaz.

23 But the LORD was gracious and merciful to the people of Israel, and they were not totally destroyed. He pitied them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And to this day he still has not completely destroyed them or banished them from his presence.

24 King Hazael of Aram died, and his son Ben-hadad became the next king.

25 Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz recaptured from Ben-hadad son of Hazael the towns that had been taken from Jehoash’s father, Jehoahaz. Jehoash defeated Ben-hadad on three occasions, and he recovered the Israelite towns.