Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
2 Kings 13:20-25
Joash Smites Aram Three Times As A Result Of YHWH Giving Israel New Strength, Raising Them As It Were, From The Dead (2 Kings 13:20).
The parlous state of Israel at this time is demonstrated by the fact that Moabite roving bands were able to penetrate deep into Israelite territory. Israel in Transjordan was under the control of Benhadad III who had succeeded Hazael (2 Kings 10:32), and it would appear that he was allowing the Moabites free licence to rove there and attack Israel over the Jordan. Furthermore Benhadad also had control of a number of Israelite cities west of Jordan.
But the ‘saviour' whom YHWH had sent in order to relieve the pressure on Jehoahaz (2 Kings 13:5), the Assyrians under Adad-nirari III, had severely weakened Aram with the result that they were no longer the proposition that they had once been. Thus when Joash came to the throne he was able to recover the cities west of Jordan, and probably much of the land in Transjordan. And that this was through YHWH's help is brought out by the acted out prophecy of the coming back to life of a man whose corpse touched that of Elisha.
Analysis.
a Now the roving bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year (2 Kings 13:20 b).
b And it came about, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a roving band, and they pushed the man into the sepulchre of Elisha, and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet (2 Kings 13:21).
c And Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz (2 Kings 13:22).
d But YHWH was gracious to them, and had compassion on them, and had respect to them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, nor did he cast them from his presence as yet (2 Kings 13:23).
c And Hazael king of Aram died, and Benhadad his son reigned instead of him (2 Kings 13:24).
b 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 (2 Kings 13:25 a).
a Three times did Joash smite him, and recovered the cities of Israel (2 Kings 13:25 b).
Note that in ‘a' the Moabites invaded Israel, and in the parallel Joash was able to smite Aram and recover Israel's cities. In ‘b' a man was revived from the dead by touching the body of Elisha, and in the parallel a revived Israel, revived through Elisha's dying words, were able to recover their cities from Benhadad of Aram. In ‘c' Hazael oppressed Israel continually, and in the parallel Hazael died. Centrally in ‘d' all this was because YHWH was faithful to His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
‘Now the roving bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.'
That the roving bands of Moabites were able to penetrate as far as the grave of Elisha demonstrates the conditions in Transjordanian Israel as a result of the control of Aram, and the weakness of Israel west of the Jordan. Israel were prey to any passing marauders. At this time of year they would be after the grain on the threshing-floors and in the grain stores.
‘And it came about, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a roving band, and they pushed the man into the sepulchre of Elisha, and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.'
But that YHWH had not forgotten Israel is brought out by an anecdote describing how a corpse which touched the body of Elisha was raised from the dead. This occurred because the men who were burying the corpse intended to bury it in the same cave as Elisha was buried in, and having removed the stone from the entrance spotted a band of Moabite raiders and fled for their lives, unceremoniously pushing the corpse into the cave. As a result the corpse came into contact with the bones of Elisha and immediately revived. It was a symbol of what YHWH was going to do for Israel in accordance with Elisha's promises to Joash.
‘And Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.'
That YHWH's help was necessary comes out in that Hazael's pressure on Israel, first through his own activities and then through his son Benhadad, was unceasing all the days of Jehoahaz (Hazael died towards the end of the reign of Jehoahaz). The phrase is to be seen as very much a generalisation. Until the arrival of the Assyrians Hazael had been able to do pretty much what he wanted to Israel, and his oppression had been severe, but the first Assyrian invasions in the time of Hazael had severely weakened Aram, and the second in the time of Benhadad weakened them even further, so that while they still kept their control of the Israelite cities that they had captured, and were probably still a nuisance against a very much weakened and demoralised Israel (thus continuing to ‘oppress them'), they had ceased to be the threat that they once were.
Note how in this brief passage the author is summarising the overall situation from Jehoahaz to Joash so as to bring out YHWH's goodness to Israel and His faithfulness to His promises to the patriarchs, finishing with the direct fulfilment of YHWH's promise to Joash through Elisha. The emphasis is all on the activity of YHWH.
‘But YHWH was gracious to them, and had compassion on them, and had respect to them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, nor did he cast them from his presence as yet.'
YHWH had not yet cast off Israel, for He still remembered His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in which Israel had a part. As a result of these promises He was gracious to Israel and had compassion on them (that is why He had sent them a ‘saviour'), and did not as yet destroy them or cast them off. Thus their main antagonist, Hazael, died, and YHWH began to revivify Israel. He had still not forgotten them.
Note the ‘as yet'. The prophets recognised that not all Israel were the true Israel. In their view the only true Israel was Israel in obedience to the covenant. And when they ceased in that obedience they would be permanently cut off. After the destruction of Samaria the vast majority of Israel was cut off, and only a few remnants survived and became a part of the Israel that remained. Later Judah would be cut off, and again only a remnant would return. Thus the Israel in the time of Jesus was only a remnant of what had been. But even they would reject the covenant, when they rejected God's covenant Messiah, and true Israel would survive in the new congregation of Israel, the church (Galatians 6:16; Romans 11:17; Ephesians 2:11; It was chosen for David's sake.