2 Kings 13:20-22

The Voice

²⁰Elisha then died and was laid to rest.

The Moabite bandits used to storm the land every spring. It was expected by the people. ²¹During the springtime, while a group of men were out burying a man, they spied a gang of bandits approaching them. They became afraid, so they threw the dead man’s body into Elisha’s grave. As soon as the dead man’s body touched the bones of Elisha, the dead man miraculously came back to life and stood up.

This miracle, which is unlike anything else in the Bible, must have happened years after Elisha’s death if nothing is left but his bones. Obviously this demonstrates the amazing power Elisha must have had in life, if simple contact with his remains revives a dead man. The demonstration of Elisha’s power, however, is not the author’s primary intention as he records this story. This story is an illustration of what’s about to happen in Israel; a renaissance is coming through their king, Joash.

²²Hazael, Aram’s king, persecuted and abused the Israelites all during Jehoahaz’s reign.

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