1 In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned for seventeen years.

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 He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and followed the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who led Israel to sin, and he did not turn away from them.

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 The anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He handed them over to Hazael, king of Aram, and to Ben-Hadad son of Hazael, for all their days.

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 Then Jehoahaz sought the favor of the LORD, and the LORD listened to him because He saw the oppression of Israel, for the king of Aram had oppressed them.

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 So the LORD provided a deliverer for Israel, and they escaped from the hand of Aram. The Israelites then lived in their homes as they did before.

(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 However, they did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who had led Israel to sin, but continued in them; even the Asherah pole remained in Samaria.

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 Nothing was left for Jehoahaz's army except fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers, for the king of Aram had destroyed them, making them like dust to be trampled.

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 As for the rest of the events of Jehoahaz's reign, all that he did, and his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

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 Jehoahaz rested with his ancestors, and he was buried in Samaria. Then his son Joash became king in his place.

And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his stead.

10 In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned for sixteen years.

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 He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and did not turn away from all the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who led Israel to sin; he continued in them.

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 As for the rest of the events of Jehoash's reign, all that he did, and his might, including how he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

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 Jehoash rested with his ancestors, and Jeroboam sat on his throne. Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

14 Now Elisha had fallen sick with the illness from which he would die. Joash king of Israel came down to him, wept over him, and said, 'My father, my father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!'

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 Elisha said to him, 'Take a bow and arrows.' So he took a bow and arrows.

And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows.

16 Elisha said to the king of Israel, 'Place your hand on the bow.' So he placed his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the king's hands.

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 Elisha said, 'Open the east window.' So he opened it. Elisha then said, 'Shoot!' And he shot. Elisha declared, 'This is the LORD's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram! You will strike the Arameans in Aphek until you completely destroy them.'

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 Then Elisha said, 'Take the arrows.' So he took them. Elisha told the king of Israel, 'Strike the ground.' He struck the ground three times and stopped.

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 The man of God became angry with him and said, 'You should have struck the ground five or six times! Then you would have defeated Aram completely, but now you will defeat them only three times.'

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.

20 Elisha died and was buried. Now bands of Moabite raiders used to enter the land every spring.

And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.

21 Once, while some Israelites were burying a man, they suddenly saw a band of raiders. So they threw the man's body into Elisha's tomb. When the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet.

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 Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz.

But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.

23 But the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. To this day He has been unwilling to destroy them or banish them from His presence.

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 Hazael king of Aram died, and his son Ben-Hadad became king in his place.

So Hazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in his stead.

25 Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz recaptured from Ben-Hadad son of Hazael the towns he had taken in battle from his father Jehoahaz. Three times Jehoash defeated him, and so he recovered the towns of Israel.

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.