Bible Commentaries
2 Kings 13

Verse 1

three and twentieth year. See note on 2 Kings 13:10 .

Verse 2

evil. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

made Israel to sin. See note on 1 Kings 14:16 .

Verse 3

all their days. Supply Figure of speech Ellipsis , by reading "all [his] days". Compare verses: 2 Kings 13:22-25 .

Verse 5

And the LORD = And Jehovah. Note the parenthesis of verses: 2 Kings 13:5 and 2 Kings 13:6 .

a saviour. Some think an angel; some. Elisha; some, a general of Jehoahaz. Compare 2 Kings 13:25 ; 2 Kings 14:27 .

children = sons.

Verse 6

of the house of. Some codices, with Aram, and Syriac, omit these words.

walked. Hebrew "he [Israel] walked".

therein. Hebrew in it: i.e. in Jeroboam's way; but some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "in them".

remained = stood.

the grove = the 'Asherah. See App-42 .

like the dust, &c. A powerful emblem, true to Eastern life.

Verse 8

are they not . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

Verse 9

slept with his fathers. See note on Deuteronomy 31:16 .

Joash, or Jehoash.

in his stead: i.e. alone.

Verse 10

thirty and seventh. Joash (of Israel) became king in the thirtyseventh year of Joash (of Judah). Amaziah, son of Joash (of Judah), became king in the second year of Joash (of Israel), 2 Kings 14:1 . Therefore Amaziah became associate king in the thirty-ninth year of Joash of Judah: i.e. one year before Joash died, for he "reigned forty years in Jerusalem" (1 Chronicles 24:1 ). The cause of Amaziah's kingship in Joash's lifetime is not named in Kings, but we see it in the "diseases" of 2 Chronicles 24:25 .

over: i.e. in consort with his father. Compare 2 Kings 14:1 .

Verse 13

Jeroboam. Usually known as Jeroboam II.

Verse 14

sick of his sickness. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6 , Elisha's long ministry of sixty-six years was now drawing to a close, after forty-five years' silence. We hear of no sickness of Elijah.

my father. Figure of speech Epizeuxis.

the chariot of Israel. A memory of 2 Kings 2:12 , wondering whether his end would be like Elijah's.

Verse 17

The arrow of the LORD s deliverance. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6 . The arrow put for the deliverance Jehovah would give.

Verse 19

man of God. See App-49 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. with Art. App-4 .

Verse 20

died. He was called in the days of Ahab (1 Kings 19:19 ), and ministered fifty years.

coming in of the year: i.e. the spring. Compare 2 Samuel 11:1 .

Verse 21

they: probably those who were evading the Moabite marauders.

he revived = he lived. The sixteenth miracle. See note on 2 Kings 2:15 .

Verse 23

And = But.

and had. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton.

Verse 24

Ben-hadad. Probably the third of that name. Compare 1 Kings 15:18 .

Verse 25

by war = in the war. Three times. According to 2 Kings 13:18 .