Elisha's Final Message

Elisha became sick with the illness that would end his life. King Joash of Israel came down to him and wept. He honoured Elisha with words of deep grief, calling him the chariots and horsemen of Israel. Then Elisha told the king to take a bow and arrows.

Joash took the bow and arrows. Elisha told him to put his hand on the bow, and then Elisha placed his own hands on the king's hands. Next Elisha told him to open the east window. Joash opened it, and at Elisha's command he shot an arrow.

Elisha explained the sign. This arrow pointed to the Lord's victory over Syria. Joash would strike the Syrians at Aphek until he had consumed them. Then Elisha told him to take the arrows and strike the ground. Joash struck three times and stopped.

The man of God was angry. He said Joash should have struck the ground five or six times. Then he would have struck Syria until it was consumed. But now he would strike Syria only three times. After that, Elisha died, and they buried him.

Later, while people were burying a man, they saw a band of raiders and threw the body into Elisha's tomb. As soon as the man touched Elisha's bones, he revived and stood up. Syria had oppressed Israel, yet the Lord still showed grace and compassion because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. After Hazael died, Joash struck Benhadad three times and recovered Israel's cities.