MPV Commentary

8. His military prowess is particularly noted here to show that the severe oppression of Israel by foreign enemies was not due to the weakness of their king, but rather to God's righteous and terrible judgment for their apostasy.

12-13. This summary of his life and reign occurs early in the account, and is repeated again in the story of the king of Judah (2Ki 14:15).

14-19. Elisha fell ill with a sickness that would ultimately take his life. The prophet's illness was contrasted with that of Elijah, who did not die.

Joash, the king of Israel, visited him while he was bedridden and wept over his face, expressing deep sorrow for the loss Elisha's death would bring to the kingdom.

My father, my father!—This phrase was a complimentary expression used to describe someone considered a guardian and deliverer of their country. The king's use of it to address Elisha shows that he had some measure of faith and trust in the prophet, which was accepted and called forth Elisha's dying blessing.

15-18. Take your bow and arrows—Hostilities were typically declared by a herald or a king making a public declaration by shooting an arrow into enemy territory. Elisha instructed Joash to do this as a symbolic act, signifying the victories promised to Israel over the Syrians. By laying his hands on the king's hands, Elisha represented the power imparted to the bow shot coming from the Lord through him. Shooting the first arrow eastward declared war against the Syrians for their invasion. The other arrows shot into the ground symbolized the number of victories he was expected to gain; however, stopping at three betrayed his weakness in faith.

20-21. Elisha died, having lived a life marked by a milder character and a less severe commission than Elijah's. His rough garment was even honored at court.

The coming of spring brought predatory bands from Moab who made incursions on Israelite lands. The bearers of Elisha's corpse hastily deposited their load in his sepulchre, which might have been easily done by removing the stone at the cave entrance. According to Jewish and Eastern custom, bodies were not placed in coffins but swathed, allowing them to be brought into contact. This facilitated the miraculous restoration of a man from death, intended to stimulate faith in Elisha's unfulfilled predictions about the war with the Syrians.

The historian immediately records the historical fulfillment of these predictions (2Ki 13:22-25), including the defeat of the enemy and the recovery of cities taken by the Syrians.