1 In the twenty-third year {esrim ve-shalosh shanah: regnal synchronism} of Joash son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king {malakh: took the throne} over Israel in Samaria for seventeen years.
2 And he did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD {YHWH, Moral Judge}, and he walked after the sins {chatot: idol pattern} of Jeroboam, son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin; he did not turn aside from it.
3 And the anger of the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Avenger} burned against Israel, and He gave them into the hand of Hazael, king of Aram, and into the hand of Ben-Hadad, son of Hazael, all the days {yamim: continuous period}.
4 And Jehoahaz sought the face of the LORD {YHWH, Prayer Hearer}, and the LORD listened to him, for He saw the oppression {lachats: harsh pressure} of Israel, because the king of Aram oppressed them.
5 And the LORD {YHWH, Rescuer} gave Israel a deliverer {moshia: bringer of salvation}, and the Israelites went out from under the hand of Aram and dwelt in their tents as in former days.
6 Yet they did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam {Yarov’am: founder of the northern cult}, which he caused Israel to sin; they walked in them, and the Asherah {asherah: cultic pillar} stood in Samaria.
7 For the king of Aram did not leave any people for Jehoahaz {yeho’ahaz: king of Israel} except fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers; for the king of Aram destroyed them and made them like the dust {afar: symbol of insignificance} to be trampled.
8 And the rest of the deeds of Jehoahaz {Yehoachaz: YHWH has seized} and all that he did, and his might {gevurah: valorous strength}—are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
9 And Jehoahaz {Yehoachaz: YHWH seized} lay down with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria {Shomron: northern capital}. Then Joash his son reigned in his place.
10 In the thirty-seventh year {sheloshim va-sheva: Thirty Plus Seven} of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz ascended the throne of Israel in Samaria and reigned sixteen years {shesh esre shanah: Six Plus Ten}.
11 He did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Judge}; he did not turn aside from all the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin {hecheti: induced sin}; he walked in it.
12 And the rest {yeter: remaining record} of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might {gevurah: battle valor} with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
13 And Joash lay down {yishkav: euphemism for death} with his fathers, and Jeroboam sat {yashav: enthronement} upon his throne. And Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
14 And Elisha became ill with the sickness {chalah: fatal sickness} that would lead to his death; then Joash, king of Israel, went down to him, wept over his face and said, “My father {avi: expression of deep respect}, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!”
15 And Elisha said to him, “Take {kach: Direct Command} a bow and arrows {chitsim: Missile Weapons},” and he took a bow and arrows.
16 And he said to the king of Israel, “Place your hand {yad: instrument of agency} upon the bow {qeshet: projectile weapon}.” So he placed his hand, and Elisha set his hands upon the king’s hands.
17 And he said, “Open the window toward the east,” and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot,” and he shot. Then he said, “The LORD’s {YHWH, Victory Giver} arrow of deliverance, even an arrow of deliverance against Aram. You will strike Aram at Aphek until you have made an end {kaleh: total finish} of them.”
18 And he said, “Take the arrows {hakhitsim: symbol of conquest},” and the king of Israel took them. Then he said, “Strike the ground,” and the king struck it three times and ceased {wayyaʿāmōḏ: ended the gesture}.
19 And the man of God {Elohim, Living God} became angry with him and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Aram until it was completely destroyed {kalleh: utter destruction}. But now you will strike Aram only three times.”
20 And Elisha {Elisha: prophet of Israel} died, and they buried him. And bands of Moab {moav: neighboring kingdom} entered the land at the coming of the year.
21 And it happened, as they were burying a man, that behold, they saw a raiding party, and they cast the man into the tomb of Elisha {Elisha: prophet of YHWH}. When the man touched the bones {atsmot: physical remains} of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.
22 And Hazael {Hazael: Aramean monarch} king of Aram oppressed Israel throughout all the days of Jehoahaz {Yehōʾāḥāz: royal heir}.
23 And the LORD {YHWH, Gracious Covenant Keeper} was gracious to them, showed them compassion, and turned toward them for the sake of His covenant {berit: binding promise} with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He was not willing to destroy them or to cast them from His presence up to this day.
24 And Hazael king of Aram died, and Ben-Hadad his son {beno: immediate heir} reigned in his place {tahtav: dynastic succession}.
25 And Jehoash restored {šuv: returned to possession} and took the cities from the hand of Ben-Hadad son of Hazael, which he had taken from the hand of his father Jehoahaz in the war. Three times Joash struck {hikkahu: inflicted blows} him, and he restored the cities of Israel.