Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 13:25
And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Ben-hadad 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.
25. And Jehoash took again the cities ] Ben-hadad must have been a very different monarch from his father. The fifty horsemen and ten chariots and ten thousand footmen (verse 7) must have been allowed to increase very rapidly to effect so complete a change in the relations between Syria and Israel as is here represented. We are forced to think again of Assyrian help to Israel before we can realize the altered state of things.
Three times did Joash beat [R.V. smite ] him ] The history is introduced that the prophecy of Elisha may be pointed out as fulfilled. By these three victories Syria must have been driven from the west side of the Jordan, the land which had been conquered by Hazael in the reign of Jehoahaz. The eastern side of Jordan was already in the hand of Syria before Jehoahaz came to the throne. It had been conquered by Hazael in the days of Jehu (2Ki 10:32-33).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The cities which … – Probably cities west of the Jordan, since the tract east of that river was conquered, mainly if not wholly, in the reign of Jehu 2Ki 10:33.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 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, 2Kg 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 2Kg 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.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
According to the prediction above, 2Ki 13:19.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
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,…. Which were in the countries of Gilead and Bashan, and belonged to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, 2Ki 10:33,
three times did Joash beat him: in so many pitched battles, but where is not said, no doubt one of them was in Aphek, at least, 2Ki 13:17, and perhaps the other two on the other side Jordan; this agrees with the three times he smote the ground, significant thereof, 2Ki 13:18
and recovered the cities of Israel; those before mentioned; otherwise, if those had not been recovered, not ten tribes, only seven and a half, would have been carried captive by the king of Assyria; whereas Josephus y says expressly, the ten tribes were carried captive.
y Antiqu. l. 9. c. 14. sect. 1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(25) The cities, which he had takeni.e., which Hazael had taken. The cities referred to must have been cities on the west of Jordan (comp, 2Ki. 13:3; 2Ki. 13:7), for the trans-Jordan had been subdued by Hazael in the time of Jehu (2Ki. 10:32, seq.). Jeroboam II, the son of Joash, restored the ancient boundaries of Israel (2Ki. 14:25).
By war.Or, in the war.
Beat him.Rather, smite him (2Ki. 13:19).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
25. Three times did Joash beat him And so proved himself to be a “saviour” to Israel, (2Ki 13:5😉 but instead of following up his victories to the utter annihilation of the Syrian power, he was content with these three triumphs, and so justified the rebuke, and fulfilled the prophecy, of the dying Elisha. 2Ki 13:19. Israel soon fell back into most bitter afflictions and extremity, (2Ki 14:26,) and another saviour was raised up in Jeroboam the son of Joash. 2Ki 14:27.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
REFLECTIONS
I PASS over every other consideration, which the perusal of this chapter affords, to take the larger, and more attentive review of the dying moments of the man of God, Elisha. No doubt the recollection of the wicked reign of Jehoahaz and Joash; the infinite clemency of a most gracious God, notwithstanding showed to such impious monarchs and their people, and the deliverances wrought out for them by the Lord; no doubt these contemplations would open a large door for improvement. And indeed, I pray the Reader not wholly to pass them by. May the Holy Ghost sanctify them to the soul both of Writer and Reader. But I pass the more quickly over those things, to take a more deliberate view of the dying prophet, which this chapter records. And as with this chapter, the life and ministry of Elisha terminates, methinks I would gather up, from the fragments of a life so illustrious, and so highly honored, somewhat to contemplate to the honor of the saint, and yet infinitely more, to gather therefrom in reference to the Saviour.
And shall I, blessed Spirit of all truth, shall I humbly venture to ask, while lying low in the dust before thee, is there not somewhat in thy servant the prophet Elisha, which forms a resemblance, however imperfect and far short of the original, to the person, character, and offices of our Lord Jesus Christ? Didst thou, blessed Spirit, graciously design that thy church should be led to such a contemplation! Look then, my soul, while waiting the Holy Ghost’s teaching, look to Elisha, and see whether he was not intended to shadow forth somewhat of Jesus, in his life and ministry!
A double portion of the Spirit was promised Elisha at the river Jordan , when entering on his prophetical office, on the departure of Elijah. And was it not at the same river the Holy Ghost descended on the Person of the Lord Jesus, at his entrance on his ministry, when the Spirit was given to him without measure? Did Elisha divide the waters hither and thither with the mantle of Elijah, in testimony that the Lord God of Elijah was with him: and are not the waters of death, and the depths of destruction dried up, and a passage made through Jordan for Christ’s ransomed to pass over, by his robe of righteousness, which forms the justifying covering and mantle of all his people before the Lord Jehovah forever? Did Elisha work miracles; heal the waters, and cure the barren ground by the cruse of salt: and hath not our Jesus healed all the springs of bitterness in us and our corrupt nature, and by the salt of grace, and the covenant blessings, his precious and finished redemption work hath wrought in us, and for us; hath he not brought in such everlasting healing to the nations, that henceforth, Jehovah himself hath said, and confirmed it with an oath, There shall be no more dearth, or barren land, for in Christ Jesus his people shall be saved with an everlasting righteousness, and shall be neither ashamed nor confounded, world without end! Did Elisha multiply the pot of oil, raise the Shunammite’s son; restore the poisoned food to wholesomeness; feed an hundred men with twenty loaves; cure Naaman, the Syrian, of his leprosy in mercy, and fasten it on Gehazi in punishment: and did he those great deeds in the name of the Lord? Yes! all these and many more, in confirmation of his commission, in whose name he acted; and, like another Moses, was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after. But as for thee, thou blessed Jesus, thou, as a Son over thine own house, and as the Lord and Sovereign of Elisha, to whom he, and all that went before, and all that followed, ministered to thy coming; thou hast indeed in an endless perpetuity of miracles, not only during the days of thy flesh upon earth, but now in the everlasting possession and exercise of thy glory in heaven, still carrying on the same gracious and blessed designs in the accomplishment of thy redemption. The widow’s oil which the prophet multiplied, might indeed shadow forth the oil of grace, which thou art dispensing, by thy Spirit, upon all thy people; but oh! how weak a representation of the fulness, by which thou art forever supplying the impoverished state of the insolvent, and the wretched. Elisha, by thy command, did raise the Shunammite’s dead son. But thou, blessed Jesus, art raising millions of dead sinners to a new and spiritual life, which are by nature dead in trespasses and sins. Elisha to manifest the power and grace of the God in whose name he acted, might be permitted to convert the poisoned broth into wholesome food. But thou, Almighty Jesus, in thine own power, and by thine own sovereign mercy, hast converted the very poison of sin into streams of salvation: by death thou hast destroyed him that had the power of death, that is the devil; and hast delivered them who through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage. Hail! holy, blessed, precious, Lord Jesus! Lamb of God who hath all power in heaven and in earth. Not one or two only of widowed women, leprous Syrians, or famished men hath thy grace and mercy been manifested to by the ministry of thy servants, but millions of souls and bodies of thy redeemed, amidst all their poverty, leprosy, and famished state of endless ruin, but for thy gracious interposition, hast thou restored to life, and health, and joy, and liberty. Men shall be blessed in thee, and all nations shall call thee blessed. Here let me bow down before thee thou Lord God of the prophets, Elisha’s God and Saviour, in whom, and through whom, and for whom, all his ministry was exercised. And in the view of his life, and indeed of all thy servants who shadowed forth thy coming, may this one gracious truth be fully brought home to the soul, and made blessed both to him that writes, and him that reads, that to him, even to Jesus, gave all the prophets witness, that through thy name, dearest Lord Jesus, whosoever believeth in thee, shall receive remission of sins.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Ki 13:25 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.
Ver. 25. Three times did Joash beat him. ] And this he had by way of recompense for his so kindly visiting Elisha in his sickness; to stir men up to kindness and respect to God’s ministers, as Wolphius here well observeth.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
by war = in the war. Three times. According to 2Ki 13:18.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
am 3168, bc 836
took again: Heb. returned and took, Three times. 2Ki 13:18, 2Ki 13:19
Reciprocal: 2Ki 13:3 – Benhadad 2Ki 13:5 – a saviour Amo 1:4 – Benhadad Amo 5:9 – strengtheneth Amo 6:13 – Have
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 13:25. And Jehoash took again the cities, &c. This was a great kindness to the cities themselves, which were hereby rescued from the yoke of oppression, and to the whole kingdom, which was much strengthened by the reduction of those cities. Three times did Joash beat him Just as oft 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 unbelief, distrust, and the straitness of their desires.