mh_parser/vol_split/12 - 2Kings/Chapter 13.xml

<div2 id="iiKi.xiv" n="xiv" next="iiKi.xv" prev="iiKi.xiii" progress="67.63%" title="Chapter XIII">
<h2 id="iiKi.xiv-p0.1">S E C O N D   K I N G S</h2>
<h3 id="iiKi.xiv-p0.2">CHAP. XIII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iiKi.xiv-p1">This chapter brings us again to the history of the
kings of Israel, and particularly of the family of Jehu. We have
here an account of the reign, I. Of his son Jehoahaz, which
continued seventeen years. 1. His bad character in general
(<scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.1-2Kgs.13.2" parsed="|2Kgs|13|1|13|2" passage="2Ki 13:1,2">ver. 1, 2</scripRef>), the trouble
he was brought into (<scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.3" parsed="|2Kgs|13|3|0|0" passage="2Ki 13:3">ver.
3</scripRef>), and the low ebb of his affairs, <scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.7" parsed="|2Kgs|13|7|0|0" passage="2Ki 13:7">ver. 7</scripRef>. 2. His humiliation before God, and
God's compassion towards him, <scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.4-2Kgs.13.5 Bible:2Kgs.13.23" parsed="|2Kgs|13|4|13|5;|2Kgs|13|23|0|0" passage="2Ki 13:4,5,23">ver. 4, 5, and 23</scripRef>. 3. His continuance in
his idolatry notwithstanding, <scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.6" parsed="|2Kgs|13|6|0|0" passage="2Ki 13:6">ver.
6</scripRef>. 4. His death, <scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.8-2Kgs.13.9" parsed="|2Kgs|13|8|13|9" passage="2Ki 13:8,9">ver. 8,
9</scripRef>. II. Of his grandson Joash, which continued sixteen
years. Here is a general account of his reign in the usual form
(<scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.10-2Kgs.13.13" parsed="|2Kgs|13|10|13|13" passage="2Ki 13:10-13">ver. 10-13</scripRef>), but a
particular account of the death of Elisha in his time. 1. The kind
visit the king made him (<scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.14" parsed="|2Kgs|13|14|0|0" passage="2Ki 13:14">ver.
14</scripRef>), the encouragement he gave the king in his wars with
Syria, <scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.15-2Kgs.13.19" parsed="|2Kgs|13|15|13|19" passage="2Ki 13:15-19">ver. 15-19</scripRef>. 2.
His death and burial (<scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p1.10" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.20" parsed="|2Kgs|13|20|0|0" passage="2Ki 13:20">ver.
20</scripRef>), and a miracle wrought by his bones, <scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p1.11" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.21" parsed="|2Kgs|13|21|0|0" passage="2Ki 13:21">ver. 21</scripRef>. And, lastly, the advantages
Joash gained against the Syrians, according to his predictions,
<scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p1.12" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.24-2Kgs.13.25" parsed="|2Kgs|13|24|13|25" passage="2Ki 13:24,25">ver. 24, 25</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="iiKi.xiv-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13" parsed="|2Kgs|13|0|0|0" passage="2Ki 13" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iiKi.xiv-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.1-2Kgs.13.9" parsed="|2Kgs|13|1|13|9" passage="2Ki 13:1-9" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Kgs.13.1-2Kgs.13.9">
<h4 id="iiKi.xiv-p1.15">The Reign of Jehoahaz. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xiv-p1.16">b. c.</span> 839.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiKi.xiv-p2">1 In the three and twentieth year of Joash the
son of Ahaziah king of Judah Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to
reign over Israel in Samaria, <i>and reigned</i> seventeen years.
  2 And he did <i>that which was</i> evil in the sight of the
<span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xiv-p2.1">Lord</span>, and followed the sins of
Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed
not therefrom.   3 And the anger of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xiv-p2.2">Lord</span> was kindled against Israel, and he
delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the
hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, all <i>their</i> days.   4
And Jehoahaz besought the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xiv-p2.3">Lord</span>, and
the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xiv-p2.4">Lord</span> hearkened unto him: for he
saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed
them.   5 (And the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xiv-p2.5">Lord</span> gave
Israel a saviour, so that they went out from under the hand of the
Syrians: and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents, as
beforetime.   6 Nevertheless they departed not from the sins
of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, <i>but</i> walked
therein: and there remained the grove also in Samaria.)   7
Neither did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty horsemen,
and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria
had destroyed them, and had made them like the dust by threshing.
  8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did,
and his might, <i>are</i> they not written in the book of the
chronicles of the kings of Israel?   9 And Jehoahaz slept with
his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son
reigned in his stead.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xiv-p3">This general account of the reign of
Jehoahaz, and of the state of Israel during his seventeen years,
though short, is long enough to let us see two things which are
very affecting and instructive:—</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xiv-p4">I. The glory of Israel raked up in the
ashes, buried and lost, and turned into shame. How unlike does
Israel appear here to what it had been and might have been! How is
its crown profaned and its honour laid in the dust! 1. It was the
honour of Israel that they worshipped the only living and true God,
who is a Spirit, an eternal mind, and had rules by which to worship
him of his own appointment; but by <i>changing the glory of their
incorruptible God into the similitude of an ox, the truth of God
into a lie,</i> they lost this honour, and levelled themselves with
the nations that worshipped the work of their own hands. We find
here that the king <i>followed the sins of Jeroboam</i> (<scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.2" parsed="|2Kgs|13|2|0|0" passage="2Ki 13:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>), and the people departed
<i>not from them, but walked therein,</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.6" parsed="|2Kgs|13|6|0|0" passage="2Ki 13:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. There could not be a greater
reproach than these two idolized calves were to a people that were
instructed in the service of God and entrusted with the lively
oracles. In all the history of the ten tribes we never find the
least shock given to that idolatry, but, in every reign, still the
calf was their god, and they separated themselves to that shame. 2.
It was the honour of Israel that they were taken under the special
protection of heaven; God himself was their defence, the shield of
their help and the sword of their excellency. Happy wast thou, O
Israel! upon this account. But here, as often before, we find them
stripped of this glory, and exposed to the insults of all their
neighbours. They by their sins provoked God to anger, and then he
<i>delivered them into the hands of Hazael and Benhadad,</i>
<scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.3" parsed="|2Kgs|13|3|0|0" passage="2Ki 13:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. <i>Hazael
oppressed Israel</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.22" parsed="|2Kgs|13|22|0|0" passage="2Ki 13:22"><i>v.</i>
22</scripRef>. Surely never was any nation so often plucked and
pillaged by their neighbours as Israel was. This the people brought
upon themselves by sin; when they had provoked God to pluck up
their hedge, the goodness of their land did but tempt their
neighbours to prey upon them. So low was Israel brought in this
reign, by the many depredations which the Syrians made upon them,
that the militia of the kingdom and all the force they could bring
into the field were but <i>fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and 10,000
footmen,</i> a despicable muster, <scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.7" parsed="|2Kgs|13|7|0|0" passage="2Ki 13:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. Have the thousands of Israel
come to this? <i>How has the gold become dim!</i> The debauching of
a nation will certainly be the debasing of it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xiv-p5">II. Some sparks of Israel's ancient honour
appearing in these ashes. It is not quite forgotten,
notwithstanding all these quarrels, that this people is the Israel
of God and he is the God of Israel. For, 1. It was the ancient
honour of Israel that they were a praying people: and here we find
somewhat of that honour revived; for Jehoahaz their king, in his
distress, <i>besought the Lord</i> (<scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.4" parsed="|2Kgs|13|4|0|0" passage="2Ki 13:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>), applied for help, not to the
calves (what help could they give him?) but to the Lord. It becomes
kings to be beggars at God's door, and the greatest of men to be
humble petitioners at the footstool of his throne. Need will drive
them to it. 2. It was the ancient honour of Israel that they had
<i>God nigh unto them in all that which they called upon him
for</i> (<scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.7" parsed="|Deut|4|7|0|0" passage="De 4:7">Deut. iv. 7</scripRef>), and so
he was here. Though he might justly have rejected the prayer as an
abomination to him, yet <i>the Lord hearkened unto Jehoahaz,</i>
and to his prayer for himself and for his people (<scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.4" parsed="|2Kgs|13|4|0|0" passage="2Ki 13:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>), and <i>he gave Israel a
saviour</i> (<scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.5" parsed="|2Kgs|13|5|0|0" passage="2Ki 13:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>),
not Jehoahaz himself, for all his days Hazael oppressed Israel
(<scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.22" parsed="|2Kgs|13|22|0|0" passage="2Ki 13:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>), but his
son, to whom, in answer to his father's prayers, God gave success
against the Syrians, so that he recovered the cities which they had
taken from his father, <scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p5.6" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.25" parsed="|2Kgs|13|25|0|0" passage="2Ki 13:25"><i>v.</i>
25</scripRef>. This gracious answer God gave to the prayer of
Jehoahaz, not for his sake, or the sake of that unworthy people,
but in remembrance of his covenant with Abraham (<scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p5.7" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.23" parsed="|2Kgs|13|23|0|0" passage="2Ki 13:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>), which, in such exigencies as
these, he had long since promised to have respect to, <scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p5.8" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.42" parsed="|Lev|26|42|0|0" passage="Le 26:42">Lev. xxvi. 42</scripRef>. See how swift God is to
show mercy, how ready to hear prayers, how willing to find out a
reason to be gracious, else he would not look so far back as that
ancient covenant which Israel had so often broken and forfeited all
the benefit of. Let this invite and engage us for ever to him, and
encourage even those that have forsaken him to return and repent;
for <i>there is forgiveness with him, that he may be
feared.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="iiKi.xiv-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.10-2Kgs.13.19" parsed="|2Kgs|13|10|13|19" passage="2Ki 13:10-19" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Kgs.13.10-2Kgs.13.19">
<h4 id="iiKi.xiv-p5.10">The Reign of Joash, King of
Israel. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xiv-p5.11">b. c.</span> 839.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiKi.xiv-p6">10 In the thirty and seventh year of Joash king
of Judah began Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz to reign over Israel in
Samaria, <i>and reigned</i> sixteen years.   11 And he did
<i>that which was</i> evil in the sight of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xiv-p6.1">Lord</span>; he departed not from all the sins of
Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin: <i>but</i> he
walked therein.   12 And the rest of the acts of Joash, and
all that he did, and his might wherewith he fought against Amaziah
king of Judah, <i>are</i> they not written in the book of the
chronicles of the kings of Israel?   13 And Joash slept with
his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne: and Joash was buried
in Samaria with the kings of Israel.   14 Now Elisha was
fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. 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.
  15 And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he
took unto him bow and arrows.   16 And he said to the king of
Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand <i>upon
it:</i> and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands.   17
And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened <i>it.</i>
Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the
<span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xiv-p6.2">Lord</span>'s deliverance, and the arrow of
deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek,
till thou have consumed <i>them.</i>   18 And he said, Take
the arrows. And he took <i>them.</i> And he said unto the king of
Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed.
  19 And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou
shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten
Syria till thou hadst consumed <i>it:</i> whereas now thou shalt
smite Syria <i>but</i> thrice.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xiv-p7">We have here Jehoash, or Joash, the son of
Jehoahaz and grandson of Jehu, upon the throne of Israel. Probably
the house of Jehu intended some respect to the house of David when
they gave this heir-apparent to the crown the same name with him
that was then king of Judah.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xiv-p8">I. The general account here given of him
and his reign is much the same with what we have already met with,
and has little in it remarkable, <scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.10-2Kgs.13.13" parsed="|2Kgs|13|10|13|13" passage="2Ki 13:10-13"><i>v.</i> 10-13</scripRef>. He was none of the
worst, and yet, because he kept up that ancient and politic
idolatry of the house of Jeroboam, it is said, <i>He did that which
was evil in the sight of the Lord.</i> That one evil was enough to
leave an indelible mark of infamy upon his name; for, how little
evil soever men saw in it, it was, <i>in the sight of the Lord,</i>
a very wicked thing; and we are sure that his judgment is according
to truth. It is observable how lightly the inspired penman passes
over his acts, and his might wherewith he warred, leaving it to the
common historians to record them, while he takes notice only of the
respect he showed to Elisha. One good action shall make a better
figure in God's book than twenty great ones; and, in his account,
it gains a man a much better reputation to honour a prophet than to
conquer a king and his army.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xiv-p9">II. The particular account of what passed
between him and Elisha has several things in it remarkable.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xiv-p10">1. Elisha fell sick, <scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.14" parsed="|2Kgs|13|14|0|0" passage="2Ki 13:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>. Observe, (1.) He lived long;
for it was now about sixty years since he was first called to be a
prophet. It was a great mercy to Israel, and especially to the sons
of the prophets, that he was continued so long a burning and
shining light. Elijah finished his testimony in a fourth part of
that time. God's prophets have their day set them, some longer,
others shorter, as Infinite Wisdom sees fit. (2.) All the latter
part of his time, from the anointing of Jehu, which was forty-five
years before Joash began his reign, we find no mention made of him,
or of any thing he did, till we find him here upon his death-bed.
He might be useful to the last, and yet not so famous as he had
sometimes been. The time of his flourishing was less than the time
of his living. Let not old people complain of obscurity, but rather
be well pleased with retirement. (3.) The spirit of Elijah rested
on Elisha, and yet he was not sent for to heaven in a fiery
chariot, as Elijah was, but went the common road out of the world,
and was <i>visited with the visitation of all men.</i> If God
honour some above others, who yet are not inferior to them in gifts
or graces, who shall find fault? <i>May he not do what he will with
his own?</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xiv-p11">2. King Joash visited him in his sickness,
and <i>wept over him,</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.14" parsed="|2Kgs|13|14|0|0" passage="2Ki 13:14"><i>v.</i>
14</scripRef>. This was an evidence of some good in him, that he
had a value and affection for a faithful prophet; so far was he
from hating and persecuting him as a troubler of Israel that he
loved and honoured him as one of the greatest blessings of his
kingdom, and lamented the loss of him. There have been those who
would not be obedient to the word of God, and yet have the faithful
ministers of it so manifested in their consciences that they could
not but have an honour for them. Observe here, (1.) When the king
heard of Elisha's sickness he came to visit him, and to receive his
dying counsel and blessing; and it was no disparagement to him,
though a king, thus to honour one whom God honoured. Note, It may
turn much to our spiritual advantage to attend the sick-beds and
death-beds of good ministers and other good men, that we may learn
to die, and may be encouraged in religion by the living comforts
they have from it in a dying hour. (2.) Though Elisha was very old,
had been a great while useful, and, in the course of nature, could
not continue long, yet the king, when he saw him sick and likely to
die, wept over him. The aged are most experienced and therefore can
worst be spared. In many causes, one old witness is worth ten young
ones. (3.) He lamented him in the same words with which Elisha had
himself lamented the removal of Elijah: <i>My father, my
father.</i> It is probable he had heard or read them in that famous
story. Note, Those that give just honours to the generation that
goes before them are often recompensed with the like from the
generation that comes after them. He that watereth, that watereth
with tears, shall be watered, shall be so watered, also himself,
when it comes to his own turn, <scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Prov.11.25" parsed="|Prov|11|25|0|0" passage="Pr 11:25">Prov.
xi. 25</scripRef>. (4.) This king was herein selfish; he lamented
the loss of Elisha because he was as the chariot and horsemen of
Israel, and therefore could be ill spared when Israel was so poor
in chariots and horsemen, as we find they were (<scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.7" parsed="|2Kgs|13|7|0|0" passage="2Ki 13:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>), when they had in all but fifty
horsemen and ten chariots. Those who consider how much good men
contribute to the defence of a nation, and the keeping off of God's
judgments, will see cause to lament the removal of them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xiv-p12">3. Elisha gave the king great assurances of
his success against the Syrians, Israel's present oppressors, and
encouraged him to prosecute the war against them with vigour.
Elisha was aware that therefore he was loth to part with him
because he looked upon him as the great bulwark of the kingdom
against that common enemy, and depended much upon his blessings and
prayers in his designs against them. "Well," says Elisha, "if that
be the cause of your grief, let not that trouble thee, for thou
shalt be victorious over the Syrians when I am in my grave. <i>I
die, but God will surely visit you.</i> He has the residue of the
Spirit, and can raise up other prophets to pray for you." God's
grace is not tied to one hand. He can bury his workmen and yet
carry on his work. To animate the king against the Syrians he gives
him a sign, orders him to <i>take bow and arrows</i> (<scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.15" parsed="|2Kgs|13|15|0|0" passage="2Ki 13:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>), to intimate to him
that, in order to the deliverance of his kingdom from the Syrians,
he must put himself into a military posture and resolve to undergo
the perils and fatigues of war. God would be the agent, but he must
be the instrument. And that he should be successful he gives him a
token, by directing him,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xiv-p13">(1.) To shoot an arrow towards Syria,
<scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.16-2Kgs.13.17" parsed="|2Kgs|13|16|13|17" passage="2Ki 13:16,17"><i>v.</i> 16, 17</scripRef>. The
king, no doubt, knew how to manage a bow better than the prophet
did, and yet, because the arrow now to be shot was to have its
significancy from the divine institution, as if he were now to be
disciplined, he received the words of command from the prophet:
<i>Put thy hand upon the bow</i>—<i>Open the
window</i>—<i>Shoot.</i> Nay, as if he had been a child that never
drew a bow before, <i>Elisha put his hands upon the king's
hands,</i> to signify that in all his expeditions against the
Syrians he must look up to God for direction and strength, must
reckon his own hands not sufficient for him, but go on in a
dependence upon divine aid. <i>He teacheth my hands to war,</i>
<scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.18.34 Bible:Ps.144.1" parsed="|Ps|18|34|0|0;|Ps|144|1|0|0" passage="Ps 18:34,144:1">Ps. xviii. 34; cxliv.
1</scripRef>. The trembling hands of a dying prophet, as they
signified the concurrence and communication of the power of God,
gave this arrow more force than the hands of the king in his full
strength. The Syrians had made themselves masters of the country
that lay eastward, <scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.33" parsed="|2Kgs|10|33|0|0" passage="2Ki 10:33"><i>ch.</i> x.
33</scripRef>. Thitherward therefore the arrow was directed, and
such an interpretation given by the prophet of the shooting of this
arrow, though shot in one respect at random, as made it, [1.] A
commission to the king to attack the Syrians, notwithstanding their
power and possession. [2.] A promise of success therein. It is the
<i>arrow of the Lord's deliverance, even the arrow of deliverance
from Syria.</i> It is God that commands deliverance; and, when he
will effect it, who can hinder? The arrow of deliverance is his. He
shoots out his arrows, and the work is done, <scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.18.14" parsed="|Ps|18|14|0|0" passage="Ps 18:14">Ps. xviii. 14</scripRef>. "<i>Thou shalt smite the
Syrians in Aphek,</i> where they are now encamped, or where they
are to have a general rendezvous of their forces, <i>till thou have
consumed</i> those of them that are vexatious and oppressive to
thee and thy kingdom."</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xiv-p14">(2.) To <i>strike with the arrows,</i>
<scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.18-2Kgs.13.19" parsed="|2Kgs|13|18|13|19" passage="2Ki 13:18,19"><i>v.</i> 18, 19</scripRef>. The
prophet having in God's name assured him of victory over the
Syrians, he will now try him and see what improvement he will make
of his victories, whether he will push them on with more zeal than
Ahab did when Benhadad lay at his mercy. For the trial of this he
bids him <i>smite with the arrows on the ground:</i> "Believe them
brought to the ground by the <i>arrow of the Lord's
deliverance,</i> and laid at thy feet; and now show me what thou
wilt do to them when thou hast them down, whether thou wilt do as
David did when God <i>gave him the necks of his enemies, beat them
small as the dust before the wind,</i>" <scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.18.40 Bible:Ps.18.42" parsed="|Ps|18|40|0|0;|Ps|18|42|0|0" passage="Ps 18:40,42">Ps. xviii. 40, 42</scripRef>. The king showed not
that eagerness and flame which one might have expected upon this
occasion, but smote thrice, and no more. Either out of foolish
tenderness to the Syrians, he smote as if he were afraid of hurting
them, at least of ruining them, willing to show mercy to those that
never did, nor ever would, show mercy to him or his people. Or,
perhaps, he smote thrice, and very coldly, because he thought it
but a silly thing, that it looked idle and childish for a king to
beat the floor with his arrows; and thrice was often enough for him
to play the fool merely to please the prophet. But, by contemning
the sign, he lost the thing signified, sorely to the grief of the
dying prophet, who was angry with him, and told him he should have
smitten five or six times. Not being straitened in the power and
promise of God, why should he be straitened in his own expectations
and endeavours? Note, It cannot but be a trouble to good men to see
those they wish well to stand in their own light and forsake their
own mercies, to see them lose their advantages against their
spiritual enemies, and to give them advantage.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iiKi.xiv-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.20-2Kgs.13.25" parsed="|2Kgs|13|20|13|25" passage="2Ki 13:20-25" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Kgs.13.20-2Kgs.13.25">
<h4 id="iiKi.xiv-p14.4">The Death of Elisha. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xiv-p14.5">b. c.</span> 837.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiKi.xiv-p15">20 And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the
bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the
year.   21 And it came to pass, as they were burying a man,
that, behold, they spied a band <i>of men;</i> and they cast the
man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down,
and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his
feet.   22 But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the
days of Jehoahaz.   23 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xiv-p15.1">Lord</span> was gracious unto them, and had compassion
on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast
he them from his presence as yet.   24 So Hazael king of Syria
died; and Benhadad his son reigned in his stead.   25 And
Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Benhadad
the son of Hazael the cities, which he had taken out of the hand of
Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times did Joash beat him, and
recovered the cities of Israel.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xiv-p16">We must here attend,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xiv-p17">I. The sepulchre of Elisha: he died in a
good old age, and they buried him; and what follows shows, 1. What
power there was in his life to keep off judgments; for, as soon as
he was dead, the bands of the Moabites invaded the land—not great
armies to face them in the field, but roving skulking bands, that
murdered and plundered by surprise. God has many ways to chastise a
provoking people. The king was apprehensive of danger only from the
Syrians, but, behold, the Moabites invade him. Trouble comes
sometimes from that point whence we least feared it. The mentioning
of this immediately upon the death of Elisha intimates that the
removal of God's faithful prophets is a presage of judgments
coming. When ambassadors are recalled heralds may be expected. 2.
What power there was in his dead body: it communicated life to
another dead body, <scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.21" parsed="|2Kgs|13|21|0|0" passage="2Ki 13:21"><i>v.</i>
21</scripRef>. This great miracle, though very briefly related, was
a decided proof of his mission and a confirmation of all his
prophecies. It was also a plain indication of another life after
this. When Elisha died, there was not an end of him, for then he
could not have done this. From operation we may infer existence. By
this it appeared that the Lord was still the God of Elisha;
therefore Elisha still lived, for <i>God is not the God of the
dead, but of the living.</i> And it may, perhaps, have a reference
to Christ, by whose death and burial the grave is made to all
believers a safe and happy passage to life. It likewise intimated
that though Elisha was dead, yet, in virtue of the promises made by
him, Israel's interests, though they seemed quite sunk and lost,
should revive and flourish again. The neighbours were carrying the
dead body of a man to the grave, and, fearing to fall into the
hands of the Moabites, a party of whom they saw at a distance near
the place where the body was to be interred, they laid the corpse
in the next convenient place, which proved to be Elisha's
sepulchre. The dead man, upon touching Elisha's bones, revived,
and, it is likely, went home again with his friends. Josephus
relates the story otherwise, That some thieves, having robbed and
murdered an honest traveller, threw his dead body into Elisha's
grave, and it immediately revived. Elijah was honoured <i>in</i>
his departure. Elisha was honoured <i>after</i> his departure. God
thus dispenses honours as he pleases, but, one way or other, the
rest of all the saints will be glorious, <scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.11.10" parsed="|Isa|11|10|0|0" passage="Isa 11:10">Isa. xi. 10</scripRef>. It is good being near the
saints and having our lot with them both in life and death.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xiv-p18">II. The sword of Joash king of Israel; and
we find it successful against the Syrians. 1. The cause of his
success was God's favour (<scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.23" parsed="|2Kgs|13|23|0|0" passage="2Ki 13:23"><i>v.</i>
23</scripRef>): <i>The Lord was gracious to them, had compassion on
them</i> in their miseries and <i>respect unto them.</i> The
several expressions here of the same import call upon us to observe
and admire the triumphs of divine goodness in the deliverance of
such a provoking people. It was of the Lord's mercies that they
were not consumed, because he would not destroy them as yet. He
foresaw they would destroy themselves at last, but as yet he would
reprieve them, and give them space to repent. The slowness of God's
processes against sinners must be construed to the honour of his
mercy, not the impeachment of his justice. 2. The effect of his
success was Israel's benefit. He recovered out of the hands of
Benhadad the cities of Israel which the Syrians were possessed of,
<scripRef id="iiKi.xiv-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.13.25" parsed="|2Kgs|13|25|0|0" passage="2Ki 13:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>. This was a
great kindness to the cities themselves, which were hereby brought
from under the yoke of oppression, and to the whole kingdom, which
was much strengthened by the reduction of those cities. Thrice
Joash beat the Syrians, just as often as he had struck the ground
with the arrows, and then a full stop was put to the course of his
victories. Many have repented, when it was too late, of their
distrusts and the straitness of their desires.</p>
</div></div2>