Episode 152: The bones of Elisha

2 Kings 11-13

Athaliah kills her grandsons (and becomes queen of Judah)

11 ¹ When Athaliah, the mother of King Ahaziah, found out that Ahaziah was dead, she killed Ahaziah's sons (her grandsons). ² But one of them (Joash) got away. ³ He was saved by his aunt, who hid him in God's house for six years. Meanwhile, Athaliah was queen of Judah.

Jehoiada kills Athaliah and the priest of Baal

^4-11 The priest, Jehoiada, called for a meeting in God's house. He addressed those in attendance, saying, "Protect Joash. Kill anyone who comes near him."

¹² Jehoiada put a crown on Joash's head and anointed him king.

Then everyone clapped their hands and said, "God save the king."

¹³ When Athaliah saw what had happened, she tore her clothes and shouted, “Treason, Treason!”

¹⁵ Jehoiada said to his soldiers, “Remove Athaliah from God's house and kill her.”

¹⁶ So they dragged her outside and killed her.

¹⁷ Jehoiada made an agreement between God, the king, and the people: The king and the people would be God's people. ¹⁸ And as God's people, they would destroy the religious symbols of all other gods and kill their priests. So God's people killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, at the altar.

²¹ Jehoash (Joash) was seven years old when he began to reign.

King Jehoash of Judah

12 ¹ Jehoash was king of Judah for forty years. ² And he did right in the sight of God, with the priest, Jehoiada, instructing him.

³ Still, the high places weren't taken down, and the people sacrificed burnt offerings there.

^4-11 Jehoash repaired God's house with money that he collected from the people.

²⁰ King Joash (Jehoash) was killed by his servants in a conspiracy.

Jehoahaz and Jehoash

13 Jehu's son, Jehoahaz, became king of Israel in the 23rd year of Joash's reign in Judah.

^2-3 Jehoahaz did evil in God's sight, so God delivered Israel into the hands of the Syrian kings, Hazael and Benhadad.

Jehoahaz died and his son, Joash, became king of Israel in the 37th year of Joash (Jehoash) the king of Judah. ^9-10

Elisha dies (and a dead man comes to life after touching Elisha’s bones)

¹⁴ Elisha was sick and was about to die. ^15-17 When King Joash visited him, Elisha said,

Open the window and shoot an arrow out of it.

And Joash shot an arrow through the window.

Elisha said to Joash, “The arrow is a sign from God that you will smite the Syrians.”

¹⁸ Elisha said to Joash, “Smite the ground with your arrows.”

And Joash smacked the ground three times with his arrows.

¹⁹ Elisha was angry with him and said,

You should have hit the ground five or six times. But now you'll only smite Syria three times.

²⁰ Then Elisha died, and they buried him.

²¹ Later, as they were burying another man, the body touched the Elisha's bones and the dead man came to life and stood on his feet.