约哈斯做以色列王

13 犹大王亚哈谢的儿子约阿施执政第二十三年,耶户的儿子约哈斯在撒玛利亚登基做以色列王,执政十七年。 约哈斯做耶和华视为恶的事,重蹈尼八的儿子耶罗波安的覆辙,使以色列人陷入罪中。他始终没有离开那些罪。 因此,耶和华向以色列人发怒,屡次使他们败在亚兰王哈薛和他儿子便·哈达手中。 约哈斯求耶和华开恩,耶和华看见亚兰王非常残暴地欺压以色列人,便垂听他的祷告, 赐给以色列人一位拯救者,从亚兰人手中救了他们。他们便像从前一样安居乐业。 但他们一如既往地犯罪,没有离开耶罗波安家使以色列人犯的那些罪,在撒玛利亚仍然保留着亚舍拉神像。 亚兰王像践踏尘土一样摧毁了约哈斯的军队。约哈斯只剩下五十名骑兵、十辆战车和一万步兵。 约哈斯其他的事及其一切所作所为和成就都记在以色列的列王史上。 约哈斯与祖先同眠后,葬在撒玛利亚。他儿子约阿施继位。

约阿施做以色列王

10 犹大王约阿施执政第三十七年,约哈斯的儿子约阿施在撒玛利亚登基做以色列王,执政十六年。 11 他做耶和华视为恶的事,一如既往地犯罪,没有离开尼八的儿子耶罗波安使以色列人犯的那些罪。 12 约阿施其他的事及其一切所作所为,包括他英勇对抗犹大王亚玛谢的事都记在以色列的列王史上。 13 约阿施与祖先同眠后,葬在撒玛利亚的以色列王陵。耶罗波安二世继位。

以利沙病逝

14 以利沙患了不治之症,以色列王约阿施前去探望,伏在他身上哭喊道:“我父啊!我父啊!以色列的战车和骑兵啊!” 15 以利沙对王说:“取弓箭来。”王便取来弓箭。 16 以利沙要王拉开弓,王照做了。以利沙双手按着王的手, 17 说:“打开朝东的窗户。”王便打开窗户。以利沙说:“射箭!”王便射箭。以利沙说:“这是耶和华的得胜之箭,是战胜亚兰人的箭。你会在亚弗彻底消灭亚兰人。” 18 以利沙说:“拿几枝箭来。”王便取来箭。以利沙说:“用箭击打地!”王击打了三下就停下来。 19 上帝的仆人很生气,说:“你应该击打五六下,那样你就可以彻底消灭亚兰人。现在,你只能击败他们三次。” 20 以利沙去世后,人们埋葬了他。

每年春天摩押人都来犯境。 21 一天,一些以色列人正安葬死人,忽然看见一群摩押入侵者,便连忙把尸体抛进以利沙的坟墓里。那死人碰到以利沙的骸骨,就复活了,并站了起来。

以色列与亚兰交战

22 约哈斯执政期间,亚兰王哈薛一直压迫以色列人。 23 耶和华因为与亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各所立的约,就恩待以色列人,怜悯、眷顾他们,至今仍不愿灭绝他们,没有把他们从自己面前赶走。 24 亚兰王哈薛死后,他儿子便·哈达继位。 25 约阿施三次击败便·哈达,收回了他父亲约哈斯和哈薛交战时失去的以色列城邑。

约哈斯作以色列王

13 犹大王亚哈谢的儿子约阿施在位第二十三年,耶户的儿子约哈斯在撒玛利亚登基,统治以色列共十七年。 他行耶和华看为恶的事,随从尼八的儿子耶罗波安使以色列人陷于罪中的那些罪,不肯转离。 于是耶和华的怒气向以色列发作,常把他们交在亚兰王哈薛的手中和哈薛的儿子便.哈达的手中。 约哈斯恳求耶和华,耶和华垂听他的祷告,因为看见了以色列所受的压迫,就是亚兰王对他们的压迫。 耶和华就赐给以色列一位拯救者,他救他们脱离亚兰王的手,于是以色列人可以在自己的家安居,好象以前一样。 可是他们没有离开耶罗波安家使以色列人陷于罪中的那些罪,仍然行在罪中;亚舍拉依然立在撒玛利亚。 于是耶和华没有给约哈斯留下余民,只剩下骑兵五十人,战车十辆和步兵一万人,因为亚兰王毁灭他们,践踏他们好象禾场上的尘土。 约哈斯其余的事迹和他所行的一切,以及他的英勇事迹,不是都写在以色列诸王的年代志上吗? 约哈斯和他的祖先一同长眠,葬在撒玛利亚。他的儿子约阿施接续他作王。

约阿施作以色列王

10 犹大王约阿施在位第三十七年,约哈斯的儿子约阿施在撒玛利亚登基,统治以色列共十六年。 11 他行耶和华看为恶的事,不转离尼八的儿子耶罗波安使以色列人陷于罪中的一切罪,仍然行在罪中。 12 约阿施其余的事迹和他所行的一切,以及他与犹大王亚玛谢作战时的英勇事迹,不是都写在以色列诸王的年代志上吗? 13 约阿施和他的祖先一同长眠后,耶罗波安坐上了他的王位。他把约阿施葬在撒玛利亚,和以色列诸王在一起。

以利沙病重

14 以利沙患了必死的病。以色列王约阿施下到他那里,伏在他的脸上哭,说:“父啊,父啊!以色列的战车和骑兵啊!” 15 以利沙对他说:“拿弓箭来!”他就把弓箭拿给他。 16 他对以色列王说:“把你的手放在弓上吧!”他就把手放在弓上,以利沙又把自己的手放在王的手上。 17 他说:“打开向东的窗户。”他就打开了。以利沙说:“放箭吧!”他就放箭。以利沙说:“这是耶和华胜利的箭,耶和华得胜亚兰人的箭。你要在亚弗击杀亚兰人,直到完全灭绝。” 18 他又说:“拿箭来!”他就拿了来。他对以色列王说:“你击打地吧!”他就击打地,打了三次就站起来了。 19 神人就对他发怒,说:“你应该击打五次或者六次,那样就能打败亚兰人,直到完全消灭他们。现在,你只可以打败亚兰人三次了。”

以利沙逝世

20 以利沙死了,也埋葬了。摩押人常在每年春天入侵以色列地。 21 有人正在埋葬死人的时候,看见一群来侵略的人,他们就把死尸丢在以利沙的坟上,随即走了。死尸碰着以利沙的骨头就复活了,双脚站了起来。

主仍施恩眷顾,三次战胜亚兰人

22 约哈斯在位的日子,亚兰王哈薛一直都欺压以色列。 23 但耶和华仍然施恩给他们,怜悯他们,眷顾他们,这是因为他与亚伯拉罕、以撒和雅各所立的约,不愿意毁灭他们,把他们从自己的面前丢弃,直到今日。 24 亚兰王哈薛死了,他的儿子便.哈达接续他作王。 25 约哈斯的儿子约阿施从哈薛的儿子便.哈达手中,把哈薛在战争时从约阿施的父亲约哈斯手中夺去的城市收复。约阿施三次打败便.哈达,收复以色列的城市。

Jehoahaz King of Israel

13 In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years. He did evil(A) in the eyes of the Lord by following the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit, and he did not turn away from them. So the Lord’s anger(B) burned against Israel, and for a long time he kept them under the power(C) of Hazael king of Aram and Ben-Hadad(D) his son.

Then Jehoahaz sought(E) the Lord’s favor, and the Lord listened to him, for he saw(F) how severely the king of Aram was oppressing(G) Israel. The Lord provided a deliverer(H) for Israel, and they escaped from the power of Aram. So the Israelites lived in their own homes as they had before. But they did not turn away from the sins(I) of the house of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit; they continued in them. Also, the Asherah pole[a](J) remained standing in Samaria.

Nothing had been left(K) of the army of Jehoahaz except fifty horsemen, ten chariots and ten thousand foot soldiers, for the king of Aram had destroyed the rest and made them like the dust(L) at threshing time.

As for the other events of the reign of Jehoahaz, all he did and his achievements, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? Jehoahaz rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. And Jehoash[b] his son succeeded him as king.

Jehoash King of Israel

10 In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned sixteen years. 11 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn away from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit; he continued in them.

12 As for the other events of the reign of Jehoash, all he did and his achievements, including his war against Amaziah(M) king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals(N) of the kings of Israel? 13 Jehoash rested with his ancestors, and Jeroboam(O) succeeded him on the throne. Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

14 Now Elisha had been suffering from the illness from which he died. Jehoash king of Israel went down to see him and wept over him. “My father! My father!” he cried. “The chariots(P) and horsemen of Israel!”

15 Elisha said, “Get a bow and some arrows,”(Q) and he did so. 16 “Take the bow in your hands,” he said to the king of Israel. When he had taken it, Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands.

17 “Open the east window,” he said, and he opened it. “Shoot!”(R) Elisha said, and he shot. “The Lord’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram!” Elisha declared. “You will completely destroy the Arameans at Aphek.”(S)

18 Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and the king took them. Elisha told him, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped. 19 The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times.”(T)

20 Elisha died and was buried.

Now Moabite raiders(U) used to enter the country every spring. 21 Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life(V) and stood up on his feet.

22 Hazael king of Aram oppressed(W) Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz. 23 But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant(X) with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To this day he has been unwilling to destroy(Y) them or banish them from his presence.(Z)

24 Hazael king of Aram died, and Ben-Hadad(AA) his son succeeded him as king. 25 Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz recaptured from Ben-Hadad son of Hazael the towns he had taken in battle from his father Jehoahaz. Three times(AB) Jehoash defeated him, and so he recovered(AC) the Israelite towns.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 13:6 That is, a wooden symbol of the goddess Asherah; here and elsewhere in 2 Kings
  2. 2 Kings 13:9 Hebrew Joash, a variant of Jehoash; also in verses 12-14 and 25

13 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, and reigned seventeen years.

And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.

And the anger of the Lord 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 their days.

And Jehoahaz besought the Lord, and the Lord hearkened unto him: for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them.

(And the Lord 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.

Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked therein: and there remained the grove also in Samaria.)

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.

Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his stead.

10 In the thirty and seventh year of Joash king of Judah began Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned sixteen years.

11 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord; he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin: but 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, are 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 upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands.

17 And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the Lord's deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them.

18 And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. 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 it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.

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 of men; 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 Lord 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.