2 kings 13:25 - 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. Joash struck him three times, and recovered the cities of Israel.

Generated Verse: 2 kings 13:25

What does "2 kings 13:25" mean?


This verse from 2 Kings 13:25 summarizes a significant military victory for the kingdom of Israel under King Jehoash (also spelled Joash). Let's break it down:

"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.": This describes a shift in power between Israel and Syria (Aram).

Jehoash (Joash): King of Israel.
Jehoahaz: Jehoash's father, the previous King of Israel. He had suffered significant losses to Syria.
Benhadad: King of Syria.
Hazael: Benhadad's father, also a powerful King of Syria who had been very aggressive towards Israel.
The Cities: Cities previously belonging to Israel had been conquered by the Syrians under Hazael and Benhadad. Jehoash successfully recaptured these cities. This reverses the territorial losses that Israel had suffered under his father's reign.

"Joash struck him three times, and recovered the cities of Israel.": This explains how Jehoash managed to regain the cities.

"Struck him three times": This refers to three military victories Jehoash achieved against Benhadad of Syria. The number three is significant because the prophet Elisha had prophesied that Jehoash would defeat Syria three times (2 Kings 13:14-19). Jehoash's lukewarm response to the prophecy (only striking the ground three times with arrows) limited his success.
"Recovered the cities of Israel": As a direct result of these three victories, Jehoash was able to reclaim the cities previously taken by the Syrians. This brought relief and restored some of Israel's former power and territory.

In essence, the verse signifies a reversal of fortune for Israel. Jehoahaz had been dominated by the Syrian kings Hazael and Benhadad. Jehoash, through a series of three military victories against Benhadad, was able to reclaim territory and reduce Syrian influence over Israel. While not a complete defeat of Syria, it provided much-needed respite and restored some pride to the kingdom of Israel. It also highlights the conditional nature of divine blessing based on obedience and faith, as illustrated by the prophecy and Jehoash's response.