2 Rois - Caput 13

2 Rois 13.1 anno vicesimo tertio Ioas filii Ahaziae regis Iudae regnavit Ioachaz filius Hieu super Israhel in Samaria decem et septem annis 2 Rois 13.2 et fecit malum coram Domino secutusque est peccata Hieroboam filii Nabath qui peccare fecit Israhel non declinavit ab eis 2 Rois 13.3 iratusque est furor Domini contra Israhel et tradidit eos in manu Azahelis regis Syriae et in manu Benadad filii Azahel cunctis diebus 2 Rois 13.4 deprecatus est autem Ioachaz faciem Domini et audivit eum Dominus vidit enim angustiam Israhel qua adtriverat eos rex Syriae 2 Rois 13.5 et dedit Dominus Israheli salvatorem et liberatus est de manu Syriae habitaveruntque filii Israhel in tabernaculis suis sicut heri et nudius tertius 2 Rois 13.6 verumtamen non recesserunt a peccatis domus Hieroboam qui peccare fecit Israhel in ipsis ambulaverunt siquidem et lucus permansit in Samaria 2 Rois 13.7 et non sunt derelicti Ioachaz de populo nisi quinquaginta equites et decem currus et decem milia peditum interfecerat enim eos rex Syriae et redegerat quasi pulverem in tritura areae 2 Rois 13.8 reliqua autem sermonum Ioachaz et universa quae fecit sed et fortitudo eius nonne haec scripta sunt in libro sermonum dierum regum Israhel 2 Rois 13.9 dormivitque Ioachaz cum patribus suis et sepelierunt eum in Samaria regnavitque Ioas filius eius pro eo 2 Rois 13.10 anno tricesimo septimo Ioas regis Iuda regnavit Ioas filius Ioachaz super Israhel in Samaria sedecim annis 2 Rois 13.11 et fecit quod malum est in conspectu Domini non declinavit ab omnibus peccatis Hieroboam filii Nabath qui peccare fecit Israhel in ipsis ambulavit 2 Rois 13.12 reliqua autem sermonum Ioas et universa quae fecit sed et fortitudo eius quomodo pugnaverit contra Amasiam regem Iuda nonne haec scripta sunt in libro sermonum regum Israhel 2 Rois 13.13 et dormivit Ioas cum patribus suis Hieroboam autem sedit super solium eius porro Ioas sepultus est in Samaria cum regibus Israhel 2 Rois 13.14 Heliseus autem aegrotabat infirmitate qua et mortuus est descenditque ad eum Ioas rex Israhel et flebat coram eo dicebatque pater mi pater mi currus Israhel et auriga eius 2 Rois 13.15 et ait illi Heliseus adfer arcum et sagittas cumque adtulisset ad eum arcum et sagittas 2 Rois 13.16 dixit ad regem Israhel pone manum tuam super arcum et cum posuisset ille manum suam superposuit Heliseus manus suas manibus regis 2 Rois 13.17 et ait aperi fenestram orientalem cumque aperuisset dixit Heliseus iace sagittam et iecit et ait Heliseus sagitta salutis Domini et sagitta salutis contra Syriam percutiesque Syriam in Afec donec consumas eam 2 Rois 13.18 et ait tolle sagittas qui cum tulisset rursum dixit ei percute iaculo terram et cum percussisset tribus vicibus et stetisset 2 Rois 13.19 iratus est contra eum vir Dei et ait si percussisses quinquies aut sexies sive septies percussisses Syriam usque ad consummationem nunc autem tribus vicibus percuties eam 2 Rois 13.20 mortuus est ergo Heliseus et sepelierunt eum latrunculi quoque de Moab venerunt in terra in ipso anno 2 Rois 13.21 quidam autem sepelientes hominem viderunt latrunculos et proiecerunt cadaver in sepulchro Helisei quod ambulavit et tetigit ossa Helisei et revixit homo et stetit super pedes suos 2 Rois 13.22 igitur Azahel rex Syriae adflixit Israhel cunctis diebus Ioachaz 2 Rois 13.23 et misertus est Dominus eorum et reversus est ad eos propter pactum suum quod habebat cum Abraham Isaac et Iacob et noluit disperdere eos neque proicere penitus usque in praesens tempus 2 Rois 13.24 mortuus est autem Azahel rex Syriae et regnavit Benadad filius eius pro eo 2 Rois 13.25 porro Ioas filius Ioachaz tulit urbes de manu Benadad filii Azahel quas tulerat de manu Ioachaz patris sui iure proelii tribus vicibus percussit eum Ioas et reddidit civitates Israheli

2 Rois : Caput 13

Divine Mercy in the Reigns of Jehoahaz and Joash

Chapter 13 of 2 Kings recounts the reigns of Jehoahaz and Joash of Israel. This complex passage raises a central question: how does God's mercy persist in times of decadence? The narrative touches on Syrian oppression, Jehoahaz's temporary repentance, and Elisha's final prophecies.

Deep Themes of the Chapter

This chapter addresses topics such as the cycle of sin and deliverance, divine forbearance, and the enduring power of the prophetic word. It highlights the tension between God's judgment and grace.

Meditation on Bible Passages

Meditate with us on five Bible passages that resonate with the profound themes of this revelatory chapter:

Amos 1:3

"This is what the Lord says: 'For three transgressions of Damascus, and even more for four, I will not withhold punishment, because he has trodden Gilead with iron rails.'" This passage is a prophecy against Damascus (Syria) and directly relates to the Syrian oppression mentioned in 2 Kings 13.

Psalms 103:8-10

"The Lord is compassionate and gracious, very patient and full of love. He does not always accuse us or hold a grudge against us; He does not deal with us according to our sins or repay us according to our iniquities." This psalm reflects God's mercy toward Israel despite its unfaithfulness, as shown in 2 Kings 13. Hebrews 11:35 Women welcomed their dead back to life. Others were tortured and refused to be released in order to obtain a higher resurrection. This verse alludes to Elisha's posthumous miracle in 2 Kings 13:20-21.

James 5:16

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." This passage on the power of prayer relates to the prayers of Elisha and Joash in 2 Kings 13.

2 Peter 1:21

"For prophecy never originated from the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." This verse underscores the nature of prophecy and Elisha's prophetic role in 2 Kings 13.

As we reflect on these passages, we are invited to contemplate the depth of God's mercy and how it manifests itself even in times of crisis. May our faith be strengthened by these eternal truths.