2 kings 13:18 - He said, “Take the arrows”; and he took them. He said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground”; and he struck three times, and stopped.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "2 kings 13:18" mean?
This verse from 2 Kings 13:18 is part of a larger narrative concerning King Jehoash of Israel and the prophet Elisha, who is nearing death. To understand its meaning, we need to consider the context:
Elisha's Prophecy: Elisha, knowing he is about to die, wants to give King Jehoash a prophetic sign about Israel's victory over Syria. Syria was a powerful enemy that had been oppressing Israel.
The Arrows and the Bow: Elisha instructs Jehoash to take a bow and arrows. Elisha places his hands on the king's hands as he holds the bow and shoots an arrow out the window eastward. Elisha then declares that this represents Israel's victory over Syria at Aphek until they are destroyed.
Striking the Ground: Next, Elisha tells Jehoash to "Strike the ground." Jehoash takes the arrows and strikes the ground three times, then stops.
Meaning of Striking the Ground Three Times and Stopping:
The key to understanding the verse lies in Elisha's reaction. He is angry that Jehoash stopped after only three strikes. He says (in the following verse, 2 Kings 13:19): "You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria until you had destroyed it. But now you will strike Syria only three times."
Therefore, the act of striking the ground was symbolic. Each strike represented a victory over Syria. By stopping at three, Jehoash limited the extent of Israel's victory.
Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
Potential for Complete Victory: Elisha's instruction implied that the number of times Jehoash struck the ground would determine the number of times Israel would defeat Syria. The more times he struck, the more complete the victory.
Lack of Faith or Zeal: Jehoash's action reveals a lack of faith, zeal, or perhaps understanding. He didn't fully grasp the symbolic significance of the act or the potential for a complete victory. He lacked the persistent drive for total triumph over the enemy.
Limited Victory Foretold: Because Jehoash stopped at three, Elisha prophesies that Israel will only defeat Syria three times. They will not achieve a complete and decisive victory.
In summary, the verse illustrates the principle that our actions, or lack thereof, can limit the extent of God's blessing and provision. Jehoash's half-hearted effort resulted in a limited victory, demonstrating the importance of faith, zeal, and obedience in fully embracing God's promises.
2 kings 13:18 - He said, “Take the arrows”; and he took them. He said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground”; and he struck three times, and stopped.
What does "2 kings 13:18" mean?
This verse from 2 Kings 13:18 is part of a larger narrative concerning King Jehoash of Israel and the prophet Elisha, who is nearing death. To understand its meaning, we need to consider the context:
Elisha's Prophecy: Elisha, knowing he is about to die, wants to give King Jehoash a prophetic sign about Israel's victory over Syria. Syria was a powerful enemy that had been oppressing Israel.
The Arrows and the Bow: Elisha instructs Jehoash to take a bow and arrows. Elisha places his hands on the king's hands as he holds the bow and shoots an arrow out the window eastward. Elisha then declares that this represents Israel's victory over Syria at Aphek until they are destroyed.
Striking the Ground: Next, Elisha tells Jehoash to "Strike the ground." Jehoash takes the arrows and strikes the ground three times, then stops.
Meaning of Striking the Ground Three Times and Stopping:
The key to understanding the verse lies in Elisha's reaction. He is angry that Jehoash stopped after only three strikes. He says (in the following verse, 2 Kings 13:19): "You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria until you had destroyed it. But now you will strike Syria only three times."
Therefore, the act of striking the ground was symbolic. Each strike represented a victory over Syria. By stopping at three, Jehoash limited the extent of Israel's victory.
Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
Potential for Complete Victory: Elisha's instruction implied that the number of times Jehoash struck the ground would determine the number of times Israel would defeat Syria. The more times he struck, the more complete the victory.
Lack of Faith or Zeal: Jehoash's action reveals a lack of faith, zeal, or perhaps understanding. He didn't fully grasp the symbolic significance of the act or the potential for a complete victory. He lacked the persistent drive for total triumph over the enemy.
Limited Victory Foretold: Because Jehoash stopped at three, Elisha prophesies that Israel will only defeat Syria three times. They will not achieve a complete and decisive victory.
In summary, the verse illustrates the principle that our actions, or lack thereof, can limit the extent of God's blessing and provision. Jehoash's half-hearted effort resulted in a limited victory, demonstrating the importance of faith, zeal, and obedience in fully embracing God's promises.