Melachim Bais 13:14

14 Now Elishah was fallen ill of his illness whereof he would die. And Yoash Melech Yisroel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O Avi, Avi, the merkavah of Yisroel, and the parashim thereof.

Melachim Bais 13:14 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 13:14

Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died,
&c.] The prophets do not live for ever; this sickness was unto death; Elisha died, and was not translated as Elijah was:

and Joash the king came down unto him;
from his palace to the prophet's house, to visit him in his sickness; which was an instance of great condescension and respect, and especially in a wicked prince that could not be reformed by him:

and wept over his face;
held his head over him, and wept, perceiving he was near his end, and sensible that his death would be a public loss; the nation having often reaped the benefit of his prayers, though his counsel and advice were neglected and despised:

and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the
horsemen thereof;
the same words Elisha said to Elijah, as he went up to heaven, which very probably Joash had heard of; (See Gill on 2 Kings 2:12), and here, as there, the Targum is,

``my master, my master, who was better to Israel by his prayers than chariots and horsemen.''

Melachim Bais 13:14 In-Context

12 And the rest of the acts of Yoash, and all that he did, and his gevurah wherewith he warred against Amatzyah (Amaziah) Melech Yehudah, are they not written in the Sefer Divrei HaYamim L’Malkhei Yisroel?

13 And Yoash slept with his avot; and Yarov‘am sat upon his kisse: and Yoash was buried in Shomron with the Malkhei Yisroel.

14 Now Elishah was fallen ill of his illness whereof he would die. And Yoash Melech Yisroel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O Avi, Avi, the merkavah of Yisroel, and the parashim thereof.

15 And Elishah said unto him, Take keshet and khitzim. And he took unto him keshet and khitzim.

16 And he said to Melech Yisroel, Place thine yad upon the keshet. And he put his yad upon it; and Elishah put his hands upon the hands of HaMelech.