---
title: "Clarke"
description: "Verse 2 Kings 13:1. In the three and twentieth year of Joash — The chronology here is thus accounted for; Jehoahaz began his reign at the commencement of"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/2-kings/13"
---

Verse [2 Kings 13:1](../../../kjv/2-kings/13/1). ***In the three and twentieth year of Joash*** — The chronology here is thus accounted for; Jehoahaz began his reign at the commencement of the *twenty-third* year of Joash, and reigned *seventeen* years, *fourteen* alone, and *three* years with his son Joash; the *fourteenth* year was but just begun.

Verse [2 Kings 13:5](../../../kjv/2-kings/13/5). ***And the Lord gave Israel a saviour*** — This was undoubtedly *Joash*, whose successful wars against the Syrians are mentioned at the conclusion of the chapter. *Houbigant* recommends to read the *seventh* verse after the *fourth*, then the *fifth* and *sixth*, and next the *eighth*, &c.

Verse [2 Kings 13:6](../../../kjv/2-kings/13/6). ***The grove also in Samaria*** — *Asherah*, or *Astarte*, remained in Samaria, and there was she worshipped, with all her abominable rites.

Verse [2 Kings 13:10](../../../kjv/2-kings/13/10). ***In the thirty and seventh year*** — Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, was associated with his father in the government two years before his death. It is this association that is spoken of here. He succeeded him two years after, a little before the death of Elisha. Joash reigned *sixteen* years, which include the years he governed *conjointly* with his father. - *Calmet*.

Verse [2 Kings 13:12](../../../kjv/2-kings/13/12). ***Wherewith he fought against Amaziah*** — This war with Amaziah may be seen in ample detail [2 Chronicles 25](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/25); it ended in the total defeat of Amaziah, who was taken prisoner by Joash, and afterwards slain in a conspiracy at Lachish. Joash took Jerusalem, broke down *four hundred* cubits of the wall, and took all the royal treasures, and the treasures of the house of God. See [2 Chronicles 25:20-27](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/25/20-27).

Verse [2 Kings 13:14](../../../kjv/2-kings/13/14). ***Now Elisha was fallen sick*** — This is supposed to have taken place in the *tenth* year of Joash; and if so, Elisha must have prophesied about *sixty-five* years.
***O my father, my father*** — "What shall I do now thou art dying? thou art the only defense of Israel." He accosts him with the same words which himself spoke to Elijah when he was translated; see [2 Kings 2:12](../../../kjv/2-kings/2/12), and the note there.

Verse [2 Kings 13:15](../../../kjv/2-kings/13/15). ***Take bow and arrows.*** — The *bow*, the *arrows*, and the *smiting on the ground*, were all emblematical things, indicative of the *deliverance of Israel* from Syria.

Verse [2 Kings 13:17](../../../kjv/2-kings/13/17). ***Open the window eastward*** — This was towards the country beyond Jordan, which Hazael had taken from the Israelites.
***The arrow of - deliverance from Syria*** — That is, As surely as that arrow is shot towards the lands conquered from Israel by the Syrians, so surely shall those lands be reconquered and restored to Israel.
It was an ancient custom to *shoot an arrow* or *cast a spear* into the country which an army intended to invade. *Justin* says that, as soon as Alexander the Great had arrived on the coasts of Iona, he threw a dart into the country of the Persians. "Cum delati in continentem essent, primus Alexander jaculum velut in hostilem terram jacit." - Just. lib. ii.
The *dart, spear*, or *arrow* thrown, was an emblem of the commencement of hostilities. Virgil (AEn. lib. ix., ver. 51) represents *Turnus* as giving the signal of attack by *throwing a* *spear*: -
***Thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek*** — This was a city of Syria, and probably the place of the *first* battle; and there, it appears, they had a total overthrow. They were, in the language of the text, *consumed* or *exterminated*.

Verse [2 Kings 13:18](../../../kjv/2-kings/13/18). ***Smite upon the ground*** — As he was ordered to take his *arrows*, the smiting on the ground must mean *shooting arrows into* *it*.
***He smote thrice, and stayed.*** — The prophet knew that this shooting was *emblematical*: probably the king was not aware of what depended on the *frequency* of the action; and perhaps it was of the Lord that he smote only *thrice*, as he had determined to give Israel those three victories *only* over the Syrians. Elisha's being *wroth* because there were only *three* instead of *five* or *six* shots does not prove that God was wroth, or that he had intended to give the Syrians *five* or *six* overthrows.

Verse [2 Kings 13:20](../../../kjv/2-kings/13/20). ***And Elisha died*** — The two prophets, *Elijah* and *Elisha*, were both most extraordinary men. Of the former, it is difficult to say whether he was a *man*, or an *angel* in a *human body*. The arguments *for* this latter opinion are strong, the objections against it very feeble. His being *fed by an angel* is no proof that he was not an *angel incarnate*, for *God manifest in the flesh* was fed by the same ministry. Of him the following from *Ecclesiasticus 48:1-11* is a nervous character: -
1. Then stood up Elias the prophet as fire, and his word burned like a lamp.
2. He brought a sore famine upon them, and by his zeal he diminished their number.
3. By the word of the Lord he shut up the heaven, and also three times brought down fire.
4. O Elias, how wast thou honoured in thy wondrous deeds! and who may glory like unto thee!
5. Who didst raise up a dead man from death, and his soul from the place of the dead, by the word of the Most High:
6. Who broughtest kings to destruction, and honourable men from their bed:
7. Who heardest the rebuke of the Lord in Sinai, and in Horeb the judgment of vengeance:
8. Who anointedst kings to take revenge, and prophets to succeed after him:
9. Who wast taken up in a whirlwind of fire, and in a chariot of fiery horses:
10. Who wast ordained for reproofs in their times to pacify the wrath of the Lord's judgment, before it brake forth into fury; and to turn the heart of the father unto the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob.
11. Blessed are they that saw thee, and slept in love; for we shall surely live.
*Elisha* was not less eminent than Elijah; the history of his ministry is more detailed than that of his master, and his miracles are various and stupendous. In many things there is a striking likeness between him and our blessed Lord, and especially in the very beneficent miracles which he wrought. Of him the same author gives this character, Ecclus. 12-14: *Elisha was filled* *with his spirit: whilst he lived he was not moved with* the presence *of any prince; neither could any bring him into* *subjection. Nothing could overcome him; and after his death his* *body prophesied*, i.e., raised a dead man to life, as we learn from the following verse. *He did wonders in his life, and at his death* *there his works marvellous*; perhaps referring to his last acts with Joash.
***The bands of the Moabites*** — *Marauding parties*; such as those mentioned [2 Kings 5:2](../../../kjv/2-kings/5/2).

Verse [2 Kings 13:21](../../../kjv/2-kings/13/21). ***They spied a band*** — They saw one of these *marauding* *parties*; and through fear could not wait to bury their dead, but threw the body into the grave of Elisha, which chanced then to be open; and as soon as it touched the bones of the prophet, the man was restored to life. This shows that the prophet did not perform his miracles by any powers of his *own*, but by the power of God; and he chose to honour his servant, by making even his *bones* the instrument of another miracle after his death. This is the *first*, and I believe the *last*, account of a *true miracle* performed by the bones of a dead man; and yet on it and such like the whole system of miraculous working *relics* has been founded by the popish Church.

Verse [2 Kings 13:23](../../../kjv/2-kings/13/23). ***And the Lord was gracious unto them*** — ויחן *vaiyachon*, he had tender affection for them, as a husband has for his wife, or a father for his own children.
***And had compassion on them*** — וירחמם *vairachamem*, his *bowels* *yearned over them*; he felt for them, he *sympathized* with them in all their distress: *Therefore are my bowels troubled; I will* *surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord*, [Jeremiah 31:20](../../../kjv/jeremiah/31/20).
***And had respect unto them*** — ויפן *vaiyiphen, he turned face* *towards them*, he received them again into *favour*; and this because of his *covenant* with their fathers: they must not be totally destroyed; the Messiah must come from them, and through them must come *that light which is to enlighten the Gentiles*, and therefore he would not make an entire end of them.
***Neither cast he them from his presence as yet.*** — But now they are cast out from his presence; they have sinned against the only remedy for their souls. They sit in darkness and the shadow of death; the veil is upon their face; but if they yet turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.

Verse [2 Kings 13:25](../../../kjv/2-kings/13/25). ***Three times did Joash beat him*** — The particulars of these battles we have not; but these three victories were according to the prediction of Elisha, [2 Kings 13:19](../../../kjv/2-kings/13/19). That these victories were very *decisive* we learn from their fruits, for Joash took from the Syrians the cities which Hazael had taken from Israel: viz., Gilead, the possessions of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and the country of Bashan; see [2 Kings 10:33](../../../kjv/2-kings/10/33).
Thus God accomplished his word of *judgment*, and his word of *mercy*. The Syrians found themselves to be but men, and the Israelites found they could do nothing without God. In the dispensations of his justice and mercy, God has ever in view, not only the comfort, support, and salvation of his followers, but also the conviction and salvation of his enemies; and by his judgments many of these have been awakened out of their sleep, turned to God, learned righteousness, and finally become as eminent for their *obedience*, as they were before for their *rebellion*.

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