INTRODUCTION: Despite God’s mercy, Israel continues its march toward destruction. The death of Elisha, who must have been over eighty at this time, marks the end of an era as well. For decades, Elijah or Elisha had been a voice for God in the northern kingdom of Israel. Now that they are gone, there are few to proclaim God’s word.

1. THE REIGN OF JEHOAHAZ (2 Kings 13:1-9 [1] 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. [2] 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. [3] 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. [4] 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. [5] (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. [6] 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.) [7] 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. [8] 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? [9] And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his stead.
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1. The Details of His Reign (2 Kings 13:1In 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.
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1. Began in the 23rd year of Joash of Judah
2. Reigned over Israel in Samaria for seventeen years
2. The Character of His Reign (2 Kings 13:2And 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.
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1. Did evil in the sight of the Lord
2. Followed the sins of Jeroboam
3. The Judgment of His Reign (2 Kings 13:3And 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.
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1. The anger of the Lord against Israel
2. The deliverance of Israel to Syria
4. The Deliverance of Israel (2 Kings 13:4-5 [4] 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. [5] (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.
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1. The continued power of prayer (2 Kings 13:4And Jehoahaz besought the LORD, and the LORD hearkened unto him: for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them.
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1. Jehoahaz besought the Lord and the Lord hearkened to him.
2. The Lord saw the oppression of Israel.
2. The deliverance of the Lord (2 Kings 13:5(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.
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1. The Lord gave Israel a saviour; this man is not identified, but he delivered Israel from their present distress.
2. Israel was delivered from servitude.
5. The Decline of His Reign (2 Kings 13:6-7 [6] 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.) [7] 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.
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1. The continuation of their sins (2 Kings 13:6Nevertheless 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.)
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1. In the sins of Jeroboam
2. Keeping the grove in Samaria
2. The condition of Israel’s army (2 Kings 13:7Neither 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.
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1. Fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and 10,000 footmen
2. Had been destroyed and made like dust by Syria
6. The End of His Reign (2 Kings 13:8-9 [8] 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? [9] And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his stead.
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2. THE REIGN OF JOASH (2 Kings 13:10-13 [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.
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1. The Details of His Reign (2 Kings 13:10In 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.
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1. Began in the 37th year of Joash of Judah
2. Reigned over Israel in Samaria for sixteen years
2. The Character of His Reign (2 Kings 13:11And 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.
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1. Did evil in the sight of the Lord
2. Followed the sins of Jeroboam
3. The Record of His Reign (2 Kings 13:12And 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?
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1. The rest of his acts
2. How he fought against Amaziah of Judah
4. The End of His Reign (2 Kings 13:13And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
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1. He died and was buried in Samaria.
2. Jeroboam reigned in his stead (this is the second Jeroboam).
3. THE PROPHECY OF ELISHA (2 Kings 13:14-19 [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.
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1. The visit of Elisha by Joash (2 Kings 13:14Now 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.
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1. The sickness of Elisha
2. The sorrow of Joash
2. The Instructions of Elisha for Joash (2 Kings 13:15-17 [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.
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1. Take bow and arrows (2 Kings 13:15And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows.
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2. Put your hand on the bow (2 Kings 13:16And 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.
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1. Joash put his hand on the bow.
2. Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands.
3. Open the window eastward (2 Kings 13:17And 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.
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4. Shoot the arrow (2 Kings 13:17And 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.
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1. Joash shot the arrow.
2. Elisha called it the arrow of the Lord’s deliverance.
3. The Smiting of Syria by Israel (2 Kings 13:18-19 [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.
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1. The instructions of Elisha (2 Kings 13:18And 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.
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1. Take the arrows.
2. Smite them on the ground.
2. The actions of Joash (2 Kings 13:18And 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.
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3. The anger of Elisha (2 Kings 13:19And 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.
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1. He was wroth because Joash should have smitten five or six times.
2. Now Syria will be smitten only three times.
4. THE DEATH OF ELISHA (2 Kings 13:20-25 [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.
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1. The Last Miracle of Elisha (2 Kings 13:20-21 [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.
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1. The death and burial of Elisha (2 Kings 13:20And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.
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2. The raiding bands of Moabites (2 Kings 13:20And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.
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3. The interrupted funeral (2 Kings 13:21And 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.
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1. The Moabites were burying a man.
2. A band of men (probably Israelites) came toward them.
3. The Moabites threw the body in Elisha’s sepulcher.
4. The resurrection of the dead Moabite (2 Kings 13:21And 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.
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1. He touched the bones of Elisha, revived, and stood on his feet.
2. Note: This was the last miracle of Elisha. Elisha had prayed for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit (2 Kings 2:9And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
   See All...). Many have thought that this might mean that Elisha committed twice as many miracles as Elijah. Perhaps he needed one more to finish the account.
2. Partial Deliverance from the Syrians (2 Kings 13:22-25 [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.
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1. The continued oppression of Hazael king of Syria (2 Kings 13:22But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.
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2. The compassion of the Lord on the Israelites (2 Kings 13:23And 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.
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1. His actions toward them
1. Grace
2. Compassion
3. Respect
2. The reason for His compassion
1. His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
2. Not yet time to cast them from His presence
3. The continuation of Syrian oppression (2 Kings 13:24-25 [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.
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4. The victories of Joash against Syria (2 Kings 13:25And 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.
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1. Three victories over Benhadad
2. Recovery of the cities of Israel

CONCLUSION: Elisha is dead and his voice is silenced. The northern kingdom of Israel continues to walk in their own way, but the Lord is gracious because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.