Resource > Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable) >
2 Kings >
Exposition >
Continued from notes on 1 Kings >
C. The Second Period of Antagonism 9:30-17:41 >
5. Jehoash's evil reign in Israel 13:10-25 >
Jehoash's victories 13:22-25
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The basis of God's continuing mercy to Israel was not her goodness but God's in remaining faithful to the Abrahamic Covenant (v. 23; cf. 8:47; Gen. 3:23). As Elisha had predicted, Jehoash defeated the Arameans three times (v. 25; cf. vv. 18-19), but he did not destroy them completely (cf. v. 19).
Why did the writer place the record of the resuscitation (vv. 20-21) within the story of the Aramean army's defeat (vv. 14-25)? Probably he intended the resuscitation incident to illustrate the fact that God would also revive Israel by defeating Aram as he had revived the dead man.
In this record of his life Jehoash appears to have been a spiritually sensitive man whose confidence in God was weak, but he also perpetuated the Jeroboam cult.
