But this godly woman of faith, representing the believing remnant in Israel, believed the prophetic word of the prophet and because she acted on her faith and obeyed and left the country, she was blessed and escaped the famine. But now, you will defeat Syria just three times.. I think that this man also ran as fast as he could toward the city. Joash king of Israel went down to visit him. I am particularly interested in the relationship of verses 3 and 4: 3 The LORD was furious with Israel and he handed them over to Hazael king of Syria and to Hazaels son Ben Hadad for many years. Even to the last, God will seek to turn His idolatry-infatuated people from their corruptions, and thus avert the culminating catastrophe of the Dispersion which must otherwise overtake them. Instead of vowing to pull down the calves at Dan and Beth-el, or letting the law have its course against the prophets of Baal and of the groves, he swears the death of Elisha, v. 31.73. Alas, the louder the warning and the clearer the sign, the deafer and blinder do the unwilling people become! In part, the story goes, Richard and Robin, both deeply religious, met at their Illinois church. When the corpse touched Elishas bones, the dead man came to life and stood to his feet. If God brought Israels adversity upon them, then who else would we expect to end it? I believe it shows us that a nation can expect divine judgment in the form of spiritual and moral degeneration, as well as other forms of judgment, when there is the removal of Gods faithful teachers of the Word, or when there is a famine of sound theological teaching that instructs people about God and how to know and love him. Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. We might also ask, as we reflect on the life and ministry of both Elijah and Elisha--why so many miracles? Good News Translation (Todays English Version, Second Edition) He was not willing to rid Israel of the religion introduced by Jeroboam, but neither was he willing to rid the nation of belief in the LORD, as proclaimed by prophets like Elisha. In this life we often seem defeated, our prayers seem unanswered and our work unrewarded, but God does care and is involved in all the details of our lives. I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!" he cried. Soon thereafter Elisha died. They persisted in open sin and rebellion against God, in spite of His mercy and compassion. The word deliverer in the Greek translation of the Old Testament is the word savior, which is applied to our Lord in both the Old Testament and the New. Just let the mind run through some of Elishas miracles. But matters grew even worse so that as the king was walking on the wall of the city, probably to inspect conditions, he came across a case of cannibalism. 18-19).82. But others believe that the prophet is telling the king to shoot these arrows, just as he shot the first one, only this time into the ground. 41 The people of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; yet something greater than Jonah is here! With this pronouncement the aged prophet had finished his earthly course.80. We then come to the story of the runaway corpse, in which a dead body that is being buried providentially comes into contact with the bones of Elisha the prophet. Now Ben-hadad king of Aram was sick, and it was told him, saying, The man of God has come here. 8 And the king said to Hazael, Take a gift in your hand and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the LORD by him, saying, Will I recover from this sickness? 9 So Hazael went to meet him and took a gift in his hand, even every kind of good thing of Damascus, forty camels loads; and he came and stood before him and said, Your son Ben-hadad king of Aram has sent me to you, saying, Will I recover from this sickness? 10 Then Elisha said to him, Go, say to him, You shall surely recover, but the LORD has shown me that he will certainly die. 11 And he fixed his gaze steadily on him until he was ashamed, and the man of God wept. But note what the record reveals regarding Jehoash: And he did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not turn away from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel sin, but he walked in them.. Then Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over his face, and said, "O my father, my father, q the chariots of Israel and their horsemen!" 15 And Elisha said to him, "Take a bow and some arrows." So he took himself a bow and some arrows. Now that Elisha is dead, Joash may very well have reasoned that this prophecy was no longer valid. Consequences for waywardness are painful, however, Gods love remains unchanged by rebellious behavior. He told the king of Israel, Strike the ground. He struck the ground three times and stopped. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. Death of Elisha. 17 And he said, Open the window eastward. Joash defeated him three times and recovered the Israelite cities. And in times of adversity, consider this:has not God made the one as well as the other? "You have been the mighty defender of Israel!" 15 "Get a bow and some arrows," Elisha ordered him. Moody Publishers, Chicago, copyright 2014. While it is true that Jehoahaz did ask the LORD for mercy, one does not sense that there is any genuine repentance implied by our author. Fearing death and hoping the arrival of the prophet was fortuitous, the king thought he could buy the services of Elisha. Elisha was suffering from some form of terminal illness. And I was engaged, and I was so happy, she said. He does so by sending a deliverer (verse 5). But the divine promise was to be augmented by personal participation. This is the reason this chapter in 2 Kings ends as it does. And as God would have it in His sovereign care, just as he was relating to the king how he had restored to life the one who was dead, that behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life, appealed to the king for her house and for her field. The Savior has now come, once for all, and God offers salvation to all who trust in His work on the cross of Calvary. This seems to be the mindset of Joash, king of Israel. He wept before him and said, My father, my father! The miracle of the recovered axe-head, which next follows, speaks of the same thing in a different way. God wants none of His Children to die sick, talk less of His Prophets. The chariot and horsemen of Israel! Then he could no longer see him. 7 Then Elisha went to Damascus, and Ben-Hadad king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, "The man of God has come here." 8 And the king said to Hazael, "Take a present in your hand, and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the Lord by him, saying, 'Shall I recover from this disease?' " 9 So Hazael . Shortly after that after fulfilling a few final commands from God Elisha does indeed diewith no fanfare, no drama, almost ignominiously, like Mozart being thrown into a mass grave dug for homeless people. 14 Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. This does not mean, however, that men are to passively go through life, doing nothing, and waiting for God to do it all. Of Elijahs ministry, Pastor John Piper explains on desiringGod.org: that you, O Lord, are God. You are not an idea. I am afraid that I know, and the answer is not really very encouraging. He was suffering from a terminal illness. However, Prophet Elisha, one of the most anointed among God's Prophet died sick.In His lifetime, Elisha raised the dead without speaking a word. Soon thereafter Elisha died. How does this help me with my stress-filled,problem-filled life?, Heres something to keep in mind. Rom. Is Joash fearful that with the death of Elisha Israels security ends? 7 Jehoahaz had no army left, except for 50 horsemen, ten chariots, and 10,000 foot soldiers. His faithless incredulity would cause him to miss Gods blessing on the people.75. It is in this context that we read of two final miraculous acts of the prophet: the prophecy of the victories of Jehoash and the death of Elisha and the miracle at his tomb. Then Elisha said, Shoot. So the king appointed for her a certain officer, saying, Restore all that was hers and all the produce of the field from the day that she left the land even until now.. It simply declares Gods love, concern, power, and ability to do beyond all we can ask or think. When he had done so, the prophet placed his own hands on those of the king, thereby indicating that what he was about to do would be full of spiritual symbolism. Although the people of the northern kingdom of Israel are now living in peace, they fail to address their sins, which are the source of their affliction. The dead body comes to life. Often after time passes and people leave this world, we are tempted to wonder if the miracles were real and the stories were true. That Elisha knew the king had changed his mind about his order for Elishas death is suggested by the fact Elisha had the elders hold the door against the messenger until the king arrived to revoke the order. His son Joash replaced him as king. The fact that the king wept over him reveals that though Jehoash followed in the ways of Jeroboam I (v. 11) he also revered Yahweh. Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold the door shut against him. Once while some Israelites were boring a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the mans body into Elishas tomb. The corpse came to life and stood up! 25 And there was a great famine in Samaria; and behold, they besieged it, until a donkeys head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a fourth of a kab of doves dung for five shekels of silver. 14 When Elisha became sick with the illness that he died from, Jehoash king of Israel went down and wept over him and said, "My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!" Read 2 Kings (CSB) Read 2 Kings 13:14 (CSB) in Parallel The Darby Translation for 2 Kings 13:14 14 And Elisha fell sick of his sickness in which he died. 83 J. Sidlow Baxter, Explore the Book: A Basic and Broadly Interpretative Course of Bible Study from Genesis to Revelation, Vol. Yet perhaps his realization that all that had transpired was from the Lord carried with it the faintest hope that God would yet miraculously intervene. After his body was wrapped in linen cloths, the prophet was probably buried in a cave or tomb hewn out of a rock as were most of the early Israelites (v. 21).81, Some time later some men were laying another mans body to rest near Elishas tomb. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. According to the Old Testament law, a donkey was an unclean animal and was not to be eaten under any conditions (see Lev. One of the themes of Elishas ministry was that of the kindness and compassion of God, Moody Bible Commentary explains, Elisha had directed the people again and again to the covenants of the Lord.. 15 Also, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified against God that he raised Christ from the dead, when in reality he did not raise him, if indeed the dead are not raised. Many of our own leaders have been influenced by well-known men of God like Billy Graham, but not to the degree that it transformed them from capricious politicians into statesmen as was the case with so many of the founding fathers of this country. Where do these political leaders come from? When Elisha saw that these faithful people of God could not meet their ordinary financial needs or feed themselves, his miracles met those needs, Ligonier Ministries explains, Our Lord loves to bless His people extravagantly. Especially after walking with Elijah as his mentor for many years, I wonder if Elisha was brimming with excitement over what God would do through him. In other words, even though he had seen the power of God in the life and ministry of Elisha and appreciated the prophet, Jehoash had failed to completely trust God even though he knew what God had promised. She is also the author of Friends with Everyone, Friendship within the Love of Christ,Surface, Unlocking the Gift of Sensitivity,andGlory Up, The Everyday Pursuit of Praise,andHome, Finding Our Identity in Christ.She earned a Marketing/PR degree from Ashland University, but stepped out of the business world to stay home and raise her two daughters which led her to pursue her writing passion. He died in the sinners place, bearing the sinners guilt and punishment, so that we might be forgiven of our sins and enter into His kingdom. "When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their . Now when Elisha had fallen sick with the illness of which he was to die 2 Kings 13:14-21. What will we do? 16 He replied, Dont be afraid, for our side outnumbers them. 17 Then Elisha prayed, O LORD, open his eyes so he can see. The LORD opened the servants eyes and he saw that the hill was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha (2 Kings 6:15-17, emphasis mine). Today, Elisha would probably have been in an intensive care unit, with monitors attached, along with various other equipment attached to his body. Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. Elisha meaning Elisha's name in Hebrew means "God is salvation" ( New Bible Dictionary ). He is God alone. In spite of Gods grace in sending a deliverer who gave Israel a time of peace, neither the king nor the people forsook the false religion instituted by Jeroboam. Yet we also find that the Lord sent various sicknesses, as well as death, to a number of individuals as judgment . 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. My father! he cried. The prophet assured Jehorams aide that not only would the prophecy come true, but the officer would see it with his own eyes. You are not a tradition. The miraculous account of the transfiguration was also recorded by Mark and Matthew. Elisha had been a tower of strength to the nation and he was highly respected. Good News Translation (GNT). He had heard of the miracles God performed through the prophet and evidently believed they were of God for he called him the man of God. Regardless, he refused to repent and turn to the God of Israel. In addition, God was committed to keep His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So Hazael went out to meet Elisha, but I dont think he went with a great deal of enthusiasm.77. Elijah feels hes being called away, but Elisha sticks with him to the end. When the king arrived he not only admitted the famine was a judgment from the Lord, but he believed things were so helpless that there could be no solution other than to surrender to the Syrians. Salvation is a manifestation of Gods grace, not a reward for mans goodness. 2 Kings Chapter 13. In verse 3, we read that Israel suffered at the hands of the Syrians because of the chastening hand of God. He managed to rest in the still small voice of Gods Word and Gods sovereign plan. As we take a peak into the lives of two great prophets, let it inspire us to pray for the purpose God has placed in our lives for His Kingdom. Jehoash king of Israel went down to see him and wept over him. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 23 But the LORD had mercy on them and felt sorry for them. Scripture tells us God has plans for our lives which are bigger than we can ask for or imagine. And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life (vs. 5). Jehoash king of Israel went down to see him and wept over him. He then instructs Joash to aim his bow out of the open east window of his room. 17 Elisha said, Open the east window, and he did so. Men were stationed on the shores of Europe to flash a signal while men on the English side watched so they could pass the word. When she returned home, however, she found others were living on her land so she appealed to the king for her house and her field (vs. 3). April 9, 2022 Old Testament mirabela The work of the prophet Elisha in Bible in the 9th century BC comes down to us in the form of eighteen episodes covering over fifty years. No! Had he used all his arrows, the Arameans would have been completely vanquished. I believe this bizarre miracle was divinely designed to give Joash courage and hope, so that he would engage Syria in battle, and thus experience the victories that God had promised. The Savior is none other than the seed of David, who is the rightful heir to the throne. God brings deliverance to Israel because of His compassion and because of His unmerited grace. His very first miracle is the healing of the death-giving waters of Jericho, so that what had given death now gave life (ii.). 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is useless; you are still in your sins. The author has already given us his assessment of this king, and it is not good (verses 10-13). Want to receive the Verse of the Day each day? I asked this couple why they wanted to be baptized. "My father! Despite Hazaels protests to the contrary, such would indeed be the case (cf. In their final moments, the genuine love and loyalty of theirfriendship is displayed through their conversation. 74 NIV Bible Commentary, electronic media. Therefore, through the ministry of Elisha, the people are given to see, in a succession of symbolic miracles, the power of resurrection at work, and the hope of new life which is theirs in Jehovah, if they but return to him. 20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have died. 9 Hazael went to meet Elisha, taking with him as a gift forty camel-loads of all the finest wares of Damascus. [5] 40 For just as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. Moabite raiding parties invaded the land at the beginning of the year. 12 While Elisha was watching, he was crying out, My father, my father! If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. The author of 2 Kings records Elijahs body being swiftly taken up to heaven, without having to experience an earthly death. Elishas call gives us the idiom take up the mantle, Eli Evans explains on Crosswalk.com, which means to pass an office from mentor to student. True saving faith allows us to know God beyond head knowledge, by connecting with Him in our heart our souls and allowing Him to take precedence over all else in our lives. Megwrites about everyday life within the love of Christ. The Arameans consequently turned their attention from attacking Israel to defending themselves against the Assyrians. 13 Joash passed away and Jeroboam succeeded him on the throne. As this funeral procession reached the burial place, a Moabite raiding party appeared on the horizon. God:Elisha, my son I would like you to die of cancer for me. You are not a projection of our imagination. He, like those before him, did not abolish the counterfeit religion introduced by Jeroboam. Again let me quote Baxter: The very fact that the ministries of Elijah and Elisha were so full of supernatural wonders is itself intense with meaning. 22 Now Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel throughout Jehoahazs reign. And so it was that God gave Israel victory over the king of Syria at the hand of Joash. Here Elisha predicts another famine, which for Israel was a matter of divine judgment for their refusal to return to the Lord and walk with Him according to His Word. In this story, we see not only the remarkable way God used the prophet, but we get a glimpse at the heart of the prophet and his love for the people to whom God had sent him to minister, the northern kingdom of Israel. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. Or perhaps he looked back and thought Elisha should have ordered the death of the Syrians when they had them within the walls of their city. Some of you may have read Jacquielynn Floyds recent column in the Metropolitan section of The Dallas Morning News.175 It was entitled, Bible romance conquers all for this couple. It is the story of the Flower Mound couple, Richard and Robin Shopes, who have been married for 23 years. 2, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 1960, pp. In Luke 16, our Lord made this point clear Himself in the story of the rich man and the poor man named Lazarus. Why, then, would we be surprised to learn that it was also Elijah who announced the end of this drought (1 Kings 18:1, 41-45)? Other prophets will preach to the northern kingdom of Israel, but the time for Israel to repent is certainly running out. I therefore believe that this miracle was specifically aimed at Joash. After his death, his dry bones raised back to life a dead man. His sicknesses were a punishment for his having behaved in a harsh way twice. It was the great and final sign that He was who He claimed to bethe Son of God and the Savior of the world: 38 Then some of the experts in the law along with some Pharisees answered him, Teacher, we want to see a sign from you. 39 But he answered them, An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. Elisha said, Shoot, and he did so. Elisha explained the deed: Jehoash would win a total victory at Aphek against Arameans. 177 As we think back over the lifetime of Elisha, there were a number of occasions when God delivered Israel from her enemies, even though the king was wicked, and even though false religion was not removed from Israel. Elishas words to Joash may have been spoken in a weak and faltering voice. Because of the failure of Jehoahaz to purge his kingdom of this false worship, God brought judgment on Israel for many years. Israel sinned, God brought about judgment upon Israel by means of a nearby nation, the people of God suffered greatly, God took note of their suffering, God sent a deliverer, and the people failed to permanently renounce their sinful ways, thereby necessitating another cycle of divine judgment. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man. Copyright 2018 Stillwaters Resource Ministry, Inc. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by Wordpress. Joash is sorry for himself, because his primary source of divine intervention is leaving,178 and along with him, it would seem, the angelic forces of heaven. Perhaps he thought Elisha should have prayed for a miracle as he had done in the past. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. Joash is concerned for himself, and for his kingdom, and no wonder. and dying during Jehoashs reign (which began in 798 B.C.). Throughout Israels history, God would suddenly appear to deliver His people from the penalty for their sins, not because of their goodness or efforts, but because of His mercy and grace. Elisha said, This arrow symbolizes the victory the LORD will give you over Syria. The length and severity of the siege is seen in the extreme famine that led to such scarcity that a even a donkeys head, on which there is very little meat, was sold for eighty shekels of silver (about two pounds of silver) and a fourth of a kab (an uncertain quantity) of doves dung for five shekels of silver (about two ounces). They believed in various gods, each of which had their own sphere of influence. You, like your predecessor Elijah, are about to be given an angelic escort into heaven. Certainly, the temporary lull brought about by the ministry of Elisha had been divinely designed to remind Israel of Gods steadfast love and ever present involvement with his people. Thats Leprosya disease thats still fatal in 2018. 16 "Take the bow in your hands," he said to the king of Israel. Why he blamed Elisha is not stated. But, a friend to run the race of faith with is irreplaceable; this is the companionship Elijah and Elisha had. With this prophetic revelation given to the Shunammite woman about the famine, we have another contrast in the narrative of the ministry of Elisha. The Lord spoke to me and said, She's looking for a husband, and you're it. Richard quit asking questions. 22 For just as in Adam all die, so also all will be made alive in Christ (1 Corinthians 15:12-22). According to this story, he was a prophet and a wonder-worker of the Kingdom of Israel who was active during the reigns of Joram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, and Jehoash (Joash). What is required of us is that we believe in Him and receive His free gift of salvation? . 7 Then Elisha came to Damascus. Through great faith, love, and obedience, their lives brought great glory to God in heaven. And he said, The LORDs arrow of victory, even the arrow of victory over Aram; for you shall defeat the Arameans at Aphek until you have destroyed them. 18 Then he said, Take the arrows, and he took them. How old was Elijah when he died? Whats the take-away? And in the next chapter we find the raising of the Shunammite womans son from death to new life (iv.). Always active in her community and the local church, Meg also leads Bible study and serves as a leader for teen girls. My father! homes and live in peace. The heart of this people is waxed gross.84, Though miracles are recorded throughout the Bible, they are the exception, not the norm. In other words we have reaped what we have sown. 15 And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. To flee quickly, the Israelite pallbearers removed the stone in front of Elishas tomb, threw the corpse of their friend in the tomb, and retreated. 1. One can plead for mercy without admitting guilt or repenting of it. However, the next day opportunity came to carry out the long-standing purpose. 12 And Hazael said, Why does my lord weep? Then he answered, Because I know the evil that you will do to the sons of Israel: their strongholds you will set on fire, and their young men you will kill with the sword, and their little ones you will dash in pieces, and their women with child you will rip up. 13 Then Hazael said, But what is your servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The LORD has shown me that you will be king over Aram. 14 So he departed from Elisha and returned to his master, who said to him, What did Elisha say to you? And he answered, He told me that you would surely recover. 15 And it came about on the morrow, that he took the cover and dipped it in water and spread it on his face, so that he died. For about 10 chapters after that, that fact is made manifest by Elisha performing arguably some of the most dramatic, miraculous, prophetic feats in the entire Old Testament. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw the glory and the two men standing with him. Luke 9:30-32. 62 The next day (which is after the day of preparation) the chief priests and the Pharisees assembled before Pilate 63 and said, Sir, we remember that while that deceiver was still alive he said, After three days I will rise again. 64 So give orders to secure the tomb until the third day. The NIV translation follows with a parenthetical, He did not know what he was saying. Though the apostles were specifically chosen to be present, they did not grasp in totality what Jesus was preparing them for. When the rich man found himself suffering in Hades, he asked if someone could go to his brothers to warn them. In Kings 19:15-17 God had sent Elijah to anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. He prayed for the woman to bear a son, and God answered. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. They had to run for their lives, and they certainly did not have time to give this corpse a proper burial, so they hastily tossed the corpse into a tomb, a tomb that just happened to contain the bones of the prophet Elisha. 16 Then Elisha told the king of Israel, Aim the bow. He did so, and Elisha placed his hands on the kings hands. 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And he took unto him bow and arrows. What does this tell us about the heart of man? Required fields are marked *. Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, did little better. But what he could not know was that the prophets presence was somehow related to the Lords instructions to Elijah relative to dynastic change, both in Damascus and in Samaria. God would spare us this horror: the burden of religion, the worship of self-determinism,the endless quest to know & control whats going to happen in our lives, in a future which may or may not go as weve planned. Even when given the opportunity to lead his nation in victory over their enemies, Joash failed to be the king he could have been. So what? The prophecies and miracles of Elijah and Elisha were proof to them of the One True God. By using this website, you agree to the Terms of Use. Jay Stapleton and Stillwaters Resource Ministry, Inc. encourage you to make your own decisions based on your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional or advisor. Elisha said t Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died: and Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over him, and said, My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen Now Elisha had been suffering from the illness from which he died. Finally, during the night the signals came--first one, then a second, but before the third could be given, that famous fog settled across the channel. Before we look at verses 22-25, let us pause for just a moment to reflect back over the entire chapter up to this point. Such comfort Elisha would proceed to give.74. The Hebrew word is transliterated Messiah. There are numerous theories as to who this savior is, but the author of this account does not choose to tell us. So they threw the dead man into Elishas tomb. I thought Joash was saying, in effect, Elisha, you are at the point of death. The arrow was a symbol of war. J. Sidlow Baxter has an excellent summary of this. You are not a memory. That there are endless man-made systems on this planet, thousandsof years old, built around this very dilemma. What were they to do with the body of this man whom they were seeking to bury? Death of Ben-Hadad. It assures us that what God says, He will do. Several years later, the boy complained of a pain in his head and then died. Unknowingly, Elijah would soon be taken from Elisha to be with God. Why would this have happened, and what can it possibly teach us? They were surely the words of a dying man. The elderly prophet is terminally ill and is about to die. Our text very clearly establishes a relationship between our works of faith and Gods unmerited blessings. If you were to sum up the reign of Jehoash, it could be done in very few words: More of the same. His one accomplishment was to wage a successful war against Amaziah, king of Judah. 4 Now the king was talking with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying, Please relate to me all the great things that Elisha has done. 5 And it came about, as he was relating to the king how he had restored to life the one who was dead, that behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life, appealed to the king for her house and for her field. But are we listening? Now it is time for his departure. (Mark 9:4-13; Matthew 17:3-13) These two Old Testament witnesses highlight that Jesus represents a realization of Old Testament hope, the NIV Application Commentary explains, since the two figures also span both the early and late periods of Old Testament history. Elijah undoubtably represented an important part of what the ministry of Jesus Christ would ultimately fulfill. For more information about GNT, visit www.bibles.com and www.gnt.bible. The story of the interrupted funeral of an unnamed Israelite in 2 Kings 13 is one of the funniest funeral stories I have ever read. Elisha, You are to anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-Mehola to succeed you as prophet.The two men of God then embark on a series of holy adventures through the end of 1 Kings &into 2 Kings. Hastily, they cast the body of the dead man into the tomb. 11:2-7; Deut. And he said to the king of Israel, Strike the ground, and he struck it three times and stopped. Here, then, is the way I understand the visit of Joash to the dying prophet, Elisha. In a tumultuous time for Gods people, Elijahs strong and firm presence confirmed God does not change in dire circumstances. Asa, king of Judah At some point in history, the Israelites were divided into two kingdoms; the kingdom of Judah and the Kingdom of Israel. We also see in this story the impact Elisha had made even on his enemies. Verse 11 tells us Elisha stared steadily into the eyes of Hazael until he was ashamed. And why? I would assume that this was still the case when Joash became king. With verse 15, Elisha gives his last prophecy. However, Prophet Elisha, one of the most anointed among God's Prophet died sick .In His lifetime, Elisha raised the dead without speaking a word. Joash is not happy for Elisha, because of the marvelous exodus that he will soon experience. They come from the homes of the populace--from people like you and me. Elisha had used the same expressions himself when Elijahs ministry was terminated by God (2:12).79. Elisha is mentioned only once in the New Testament, using the Greek version of his name, Elisaios, in Luke 4:27 (King James Version). Hebrews 3:16-19 For who provoked Him when they had heard? In symbolic form, it was the prophecy of Israels victory over Syria. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them (NIV). Some 15 years ago J. Vernon McGee wrote: Frankly I believe that the different tragedies that have struck our land in recent years have been a warning to our nation. Elisha prophesied that God was going to give Israel victory over Syrianot as great a victory as it might have been, but three military victories were promised. J. Hampton Keathley III, Th.M. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Thus, the number of victories Israel experienced over Syria was determined (humanly speaking) by the number of times Joash struck the ground. What a scene this must have been! His reign is summed up by the words, He did evil (verse 11). So that the sonsof men may not know their future. 15 Elisha said, "Get a bow and some arrows," and he did so. The NIV Study Bible notes that there is, An expression of recognition by Jehoash that Elisha was of greater significance for Israelis military success than Israelite military forces were. Elisha used his final moments, recorded in verses 15-19, to illustrate the importance of saving faith to the king. BUT and heres the key point Elisha DID indeed witness the event, andso, as the audience, we know that the double-portion of Gods Spirit is now on Elisha. He had witnessed the exodus of Elijah. 20 Elisha died and was buried. Miracles arent the change agents; it is the Bibles message of Gods love and grace in the person and work of Christ as revealed by the Holy Spirit that changes lives. 14 Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. Elisha had a long and fruitful ministry in Israelnearly 60 years. The aides words are filled with ridicule and heaped with sarcasm, as if to say, Oh sure, The Lord is even now making windows in heaven! If the shooting of the first arrow was symbolic of winning a victory over Syria, then surely the striking of the ground with the arrows was also symbolic of Israels victory over Syria. Just to make sure we remember that Elisha had that double-portion of Gods Spirit, thisdramatic little scene happens, and yet another prophetic resurrection takes place. Copyright 1996 by Darrel L. Bock. Stranger things than this have happened at a funeral. 15 Elisha said, "Get a bow and some arrows,"y and he did so. 14 Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die. Note that the Joash of the NASB and KJV is a variant form of Jehoash and should not be confused with the Joash of Judah mentioned in verse 1. Have you trusted in Him and received the gift of eternal life? "The chariots and horsemen of Israel!" New Living Translation When Elisha was in his last illness, King Jehoash of Israel visited him and wept over him. In his last days, Elisha was paid a visit by king Joash. By the phrase the chariots and horsemen of Israel, he showed that he recognized in Elisha, and behind him in the Lord, the real defense and power of Israel against all her adversaries. For less than $5/mo. Devastated, she sat alone at the funeral. And the king sent a man from his presence; but before the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, Do you see how this son of a murderer has sent to take away my head? He had seen kings come and go. Moody Bible Commentary. Thats the way life is. Is This the Missing Ingredient in Your Relationships? 19 And so we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief. "Shoot!". We have just been informed that under Jehoahaz Israels military forces had been greatly reduced by the king of Syria (2 Kings 13:7). Elisha, you are about to die, and when you die we will lose your access to the heavenly army of angelic beings (the horsemen and chariots of fire). Having smothered the king, he assumed the throne.78. 14(A)The prophet Elisha was sick with a fatal disease, and as he lay dying, King Jehoash of Israel went to visit him. You may ask, So what? How seriously would we take the words of our Lord if His body were still in the tomb? 3:20). They did not have time to give him a proper burial; they must dispose of his body quickly and flee to the city. 15 The prophets attendant got up early in the morning. I believe God was making a very importantand very neededpoint by means of this miracle, as we shall see in the concluding verses of 2 Kings 13. Do you remember the story about how England was to receive news of the results of the Battle of Waterloo from a previous lesson? If we had not just read this assessment of Joash, we would view verses 14-19 in a very different light. But lets not just point to our political arena. It is no coincidence that the last sentence of 2 Kings 13 informs us that Joash defeated Ben Hadad of Syria three times. 24 Now it came about after this, that Ben-hadad king of Aram gathered all his army and went up and besieged Samaria. How much later, we are not told, but sometime later Ben-hadad besieged the city of Samaria. But why does God do this? 3 And it came about at the end of seven years, that the woman returned from the land of the Philistines; and she went out to appeal to the king for her house and for her field. In verses 10-13, we have reference to the reigns of Joash king of Judah and of the sixteen-year reign of Jehoash who became king over Israel in Samaria. 14:4-8), but the famine was so bad that they not only ignored the laws of uncleanness, but the least edible part of a donkey became very costly. And when the man touched the bones of Elisha he revived and stood up on his feet. This is the second burial of our text. One of the messages of the prophets, and this was undoubtedly true of both Elijah and Elisha, was to remind Israel that God had promised blessing for obedience to His covenant with them, but cursing for disobedience. God poured out His wrath upon Israel by giving them over to be oppressed by the Syrians. And as a manwas being buried, behold, a marauding band was seen and the dead man was, in haste, thrown into the grave that contained the bones of Elisha, and as soon as the dead man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet, alive. And he opened. Accordingly, Jehoash was told next to shoot arrows into the ground; obviously victory at Aphek was to be followed by subsequent victories over the hated Arameans. He reigned in Samaria for 16 years. Stillwaters Resource Ministry, Inc. has been born out of acommitment to help young people getestablished in a love for Gods word and a close relationship with Jesus. King Asa, son of King Abijam, was the third of the kings who ruled only the kingdom of Judah; he ruled for forty-one years in Jerusalem, the capital city. 8 The rest of the events of Jehoahazs reign, including all his accomplishments and successes, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel. This mindset of having all the bases covered is one that has been with us since the beginning. Such a sign of the power of God working even through His prophets corpse may have both encouraged the king as he anticipated his battles with the Arameans and rebuked him for his lack of faith (cf. The king was looking for military help, Harry E. Shields with the Moody Bible Commentary explained, but the prophet realized that help ultimately comes from God. As he did throughout his ministry, Elisha pointed to the true source of life and power, the One True God. The king knew he would be missed, but again, we see how men in high places are often so dominated by their love for power and position and possessions that they refuse to allow the testimony of men of God to impact their lives to the degree that they will wholly turn to the Lord and follow Him in faith. Elisha died and was buried. 17 And he said, Open the window toward the east, and he opened it. After all this: The drama, the power, the miracles, the divine healings, and the display of the glory of God, we read a very non-climactic, almost terse bit of news: (shout out to our brother David Pyles over at Berean Christian Bible Study Resources). Jehoash obediently complied, but with his own reasoning powers. 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