2 Kings 13 14

2 Kings 13:14 kjv

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.

2 Kings 13:14 nkjv

Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die. Then Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over his face, and said, "O my father, my father, the chariots of Israel and their horsemen!"

2 Kings 13:14 niv

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 and horsemen of Israel!"

2 Kings 13:14 esv

Now when Elisha had fallen sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash king of Israel went down to him and wept before him, crying, "My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!"

2 Kings 13:14 nlt

When Elisha was in his last illness, King Jehoash of Israel visited him and wept over him. "My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!" he cried.

2 Kings 13 verses

2 Kings 13 14 Meaning

2 Kings 13:14 describes a poignant moment marking the impending end of the great prophet Elisha’s ministry. As he lies on his deathbed, gravely ill, King Joash of Israel visits him. The king expresses deep sorrow, weeping over Elisha, and cries out, "My father, my father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!" This emotional declaration reflects Joash's profound understanding, or sudden realization, of Elisha's true value as Israel's spiritual protector and source of divine power, far surpassing any military might.

2 Kings 13 14 Context

The book of 2 Kings documents the history of the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Chapter 13 focuses on the reigns of two wicked kings of Israel, Jehoahaz and his son Joash, both of whom "did what was evil in the sight of the Lord." Despite their unfaithfulness, God, in His compassion for His covenant people and because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, often intervened on their behalf, primarily through His prophets. Elisha had served as a prominent prophet for an extended period, perhaps for 50-60 years, beginning in the time of Jehoram and continuing through Jehu, Jehoahaz, and into the reign of Joash. He was the successor to Elijah, known for his numerous powerful miracles demonstrating God's power. His final recorded act is on his deathbed, which sets the stage for God's continued, though partial, deliverance of Israel from Aram. This verse thus marks the spiritual transition of Israel without their leading prophet.

2 Kings 13 14 Word analysis

• Now Elisha:
  • Elisha (אֱלִישָׁע, ʼĔlīshāʿ): Means "God is salvation" or "my God is salvation." This name fittingly reflects his long ministry of demonstrating God's power to save Israel. He had performed numerous miracles, from dividing the Jordan (2 Kgs 2) to raising the dead (2 Kgs 4) and healing Naaman's leprosy (2 Kgs 5), all pointing to God's redemptive power.
• had been stricken:
  • The Hebrew verb is חָלָה (chalah), meaning "to be sick, weak, or ill." This signifies that Elisha was suffering from a natural ailment, not necessarily a direct divine judgment causing illness, contrasting with instances like Uzziah's leprosy (2 Chr 26:19-21) or Ahaziah's injury (2 Kgs 1). It emphasizes the prophet's full humanity and mortality despite his extraordinary spiritual gifts.
• with the illness of which he was to die:
  • This phrase clearly states the fatal nature of his illness. Unlike others whom Elisha had healed or raised from the dead, Elisha himself faced an ordinary end of life, which underscores the universal reach of death (Heb 9:27) even for God's greatest servants. This distinguishes him from Elijah, who ascended to heaven without dying (2 Kgs 2:11).
• Then Joash king of Israel came down to him:
  • Joash (of Israel): Distinct from Joash of Judah (2 Kgs 12). He was a wicked king, though perhaps not as bad as some of his predecessors. His act of coming to the prophet’s bedside, likely from his palace, demonstrates a degree of respect or even desperation. It implies a recognition, however belated, of Elisha's significant influence and authority. "Came down" (וַיֵּרֶד, vayyerer) suggests humility, acknowledging the prophet's greater spiritual standing.
• and wept over him:
  • This indicates genuine grief and lamentation from the king. It was a personal expression of sorrow, possibly mixed with fear for the nation's future without its key spiritual intercessor. His tears acknowledge a deep loss, pointing to Elisha's stature and perhaps an awareness of how little Israel had truly benefited from the prophet's guidance.
• and said, 'My father, my father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!'
  • 'My father, my father!' (אָבִי אָבִי, ʾāḇî ʾāḇî): A term of deep respect, affection, and acknowledgment of Elisha's spiritual authority and guidance, akin to calling him a spiritual patriarch or source of strength. Elisha used this exact phrase when Elijah was taken up (2 Kgs 2:12), showing that Joash recognized Elisha as the successor in spiritual power and the nation's protector.
  • 'The chariots and horsemen of Israel!' (רֶכֶב יִשְׂרָאֵל וּפָרָשָׁיו, reḵeḇ Yisrāʾēl ûfārāšāyw): This profound statement carries immense theological weight. It is a direct echo of Elisha's cry at Elijah's ascension (2 Kgs 2:12).
    • Literally, it refers to military strength. However, in this context, it is a spiritual declaration. It signifies that Elisha, the prophet of God, was the true defense and spiritual might of Israel, not its earthly military forces or alliances. His presence and prayers provided more protection than any army. This serves as an implicit polemic against the contemporary beliefs of relying solely on physical might (Ps 20:7, Ps 33:16-17). The king, though worldly, acknowledges that the real power for Israel's survival against nations like Aram lies with the God of Elisha, accessible through His prophet. Elisha’s life and intercession secured God's favor for Israel despite its sin.

2 Kings 13 14 Bonus section

Elisha’s death being an ordinary one by illness, unlike Elijah’s supernatural ascension, emphasizes that God can work powerfully through human vessels and also that His plan often involves the ordinary end of His servants. This paradoxically underscores God's sovereignty and self-sufficiency, indicating that His work is not ultimately dependent on the presence of any single human instrument, no matter how great. Furthermore, this specific account of Elisha’s death and Joash’s reaction sets the stage for the peculiar miracle in the next verse (2 Kgs 13:20-21), where a dead man revives upon touching Elisha's bones, indicating that God's power, once dwelling in His prophet, was not completely extinguished even in death, serving as a sign to an unfaithful nation.

2 Kings 13 14 Commentary

2 Kings 13:14 captures a powerful moment of transition and realization. Elisha, a man through whom God worked countless miracles of healing and deliverance, succumbs to a common human fate: death by illness. This simple fact powerfully demonstrates the shared mortality of humanity, even for those uniquely used by God. King Joash’s visit and emotional outburst serve as a critical reflection of Israel's spiritual state. Despite his own wickedness, Joash recognizes the irreplaceable void Elisha's death would create. His cry, echoing Elisha's own words upon Elijah's departure, is not merely one of grief but an acknowledgment that Elisha embodied the true defense and spiritual backbone of Israel, representing God's active presence and power among His people. It implicitly criticizes the common royal tendency to trust in military might over divine intervention and prophetic counsel. The "chariots and horsemen" were not material but spiritual – the unseen angelic hosts that fought for God’s people through Elisha’s ministry.