2 Kings 13:14–19

Elisha Makes One Final Prophecy

13:14 Now Elisha had a terminal illness.32 King Joash of Israel went down to visit him.33 He wept before him and said, “My father, my father! The chariot34 and horsemen of Israel!”35 13:15 Elisha told him, “Take a bow and some arrows,” and he did so.36 13:16 Then Elisha37 told the king of Israel, “Aim the bow.”38 He did so,39 and Elisha placed his hands on the king’s hands. 13:17 Elisha40 said, “Open the east window,” and he did so.41 Elisha said, “Shoot!” and

he did so.42 Elisha43 said, “This arrow symbolizes the victory the Lord will give you over Syria.44 You will annihilate Syria in Aphek!”45 13:18 Then Elisha46 said, “Take the arrows,” and he did so.47 He told the king of Israel, “Strike the ground!” He struck the ground three times and stopped. 13:19 The prophet48 got angry at him and said, “If you had struck the ground five or six times, you would have annihilated Syria!49 But now, you will defeat Syria only three times.”

32	tn Heb “Now Elisha was ill with the illness by which he would die.”
33	tn Heb “went down to him.”
34	tn Though the noun is singular here, it may be collective, in which case it could be translated “chariots.”
35	sn By comparing Elisha to a one-man army, the king emphasizes the power of the prophetic word. See the note at 2:12.
36	tn Heb “and he took a bow and some arrows.”
37	tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elisha) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
38	tn Heb “Cause your hand to ride on the bow.”
39	tn Heb “and he caused his hand to ride.”
40	tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elisha) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
41	tn Heb “He opened [it].”
42	tn Heb “and he shot.”
43	tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elisha) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
44	tn Heb “The arrow of victory of the Lord and the arrow of victory over Syria.”
45	tn Heb “you will strike down Syria in Aphek until destruction.”
46	tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elisha) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
47	tn Heb “and he took [them].”
48	tn Heb “man of God.”
49	tn Heb “[It was necessary] to strike five or six times, then you would strike down Syria until destruction.” On the syntax of the infinitive construct, see GKC 349 §114.k.