Discovery Box2 Kings 13:5-9
Context13:5 The Lord provided a deliverer 1 for Israel and they were freed from Syria’s power. 2 The Israelites once more lived in security. 3 13:6 But they did not repudiate 4 the sinful ways of the family 5 of Jeroboam, who encouraged Israel to sin; they continued in those sins. 6 There was even an Asherah pole 7 standing in Samaria. 13:7 Jehoahaz had no army left 8 except for fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and 10,000 foot soldiers. The king of Syria had destroyed his troops 9 and trampled on them like dust. 10
13:8 The rest of the events of Jehoahaz’s reign, including all his accomplishments and successes, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel. 11 13:9 Jehoahaz passed away 12 and was buried 13 in Samaria. His son Joash replaced him as king.
[13:5] 1 sn The identity of this unnamed “deliverer” is debated. For options see M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings (AB), 143.
[13:5] 2 tn Heb “and they went from under the hand of Syria.”
[13:5] 3 tn Heb “and the sons of Israel lived in their tents as before.”
[13:6] 4 tn Heb “they did not turn away from.”
[13:6] 6 tc Heb “in it he walked.” The singular verb (הָלַךְ, halakh) is probably due to an error of haplography and should be emended to the plural (הָלְכּוּ, halÿku). Note that a vav immediately follows (on the form וְגַם, vÿgam).
[13:6] 7 tn Or “an image of Asherah”; ASV, NASB “the Asherah”; NCV “the Asherah idol.”
[13:7] 7 tn Heb “Indeed he did not leave to Jehoahaz people.” The identity of the subject is uncertain, but the king of Syria, mentioned later in the verse, is a likely candidate.
[13:7] 8 tn Heb “them,” i.e., the remainder of this troops.
[13:7] 9 tn Heb “and made them like dust for trampling.”
[13:8] 10 tn Heb “As for the rest of the events of Jehoahaz, and all which he did and his strength, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Israel?”
