2 Kings 13:16

16 He said to the king of Israel: Put thy hand upon the bow. And when he had put his hand, Eliseus put his hands over the king’s hands,

2 Kings 13:16 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 13:16

And he said unto the king of Israel, put thine hand upon the
bow, and he put his hand upon it
His left hand:

and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands;
on both his hands, which were put, the one on the bow, the other on the arrow ^F13; hereby signifying, that though the king would draw the bow in battle, the Lord, whom the prophet represented, would give the success; and that it would be by his help, and through his blessing on his arms, that he would obtain victory over his enemies.

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FOOTNOTES:

F13 See Virgil. Aeneid. 11. ver. 831, 862.

2 Kings 13:16 In-Context

14 Now Eliseus was sick of the illness whereof he died: and Joas, king of Israel, went down to him, and wept before him, and said: O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the guider thereof.

15 And Eliseus said to him: Bring a bow and arrows. And when he had brought him a bow and arrows,

16 He said to the king of Israel: Put thy hand upon the bow. And when he had put his hand, Eliseus put his hands over the king’s hands,

17 And said: Open the window to the east. And when he had opened it, Eliseus said: Shoot an arrow. And he shot. And Eliseus said: The arrow of the Lord’s deliverance, and the arrow of the deliverance from Syria: and thou shalt strike the Syrians in Aphec, till thou consume them.

18 And he said: Take the arrows. And when he had taken them, he said to him: Strike with an arrow upon the ground. And he struck three times, and stood still.