Let's Review. At the period of time which this chapter
covers, the northern kingdom of Israel had been ruled by 12 kings: Jeroboam,
Nadab, Baasa, Elah, (Zimri for a week), Omri, Ahab, Ahaziah, Jehoram, Jehu,
Jehoahaz, Jehoash and Jeroboam 11... coving approximately 1 ½ centuries. There
were 3 royal families that dominated Israel: Jeroboam's, Omri's and Jehu's.
During the last half of that era the dominant prophets were Elijah and
Elisha... but that blessing was drawing to a close. Elisha was on his deathbed.
Remember that Jehu started out well, but ended poorly. According
to this chapter, Jehu's son (Jehoahaz) and grandson (Joash) were both bad kings
(II Kings 13:2 & 11). However, Jehoahaz did successfully seek for God's mercy and deliverance from the
oppression of Syria (II Kings 13:4). And, Joash had enough presence of mind and
respect for Elisha to pay him a visit on his deathbed. Still, they both fell
short of God's standard.
Now, Elisha had 2 remaining "tasks" to
accomplish... one of them posthumously. Both of them are recorded here. First,
Elisha prophesied about the future success of Israel in their throwing off the
oppression of Syria (II Kings 13:14-19). And, secondly, after Elisha's death, a
man was resurrected from the dead when his carcass happened to touch Elisha's
bones.
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