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2 Kings 13:17

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 2 Kings 13:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And he said, Open the window eastward; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot; and he shot. And he said, Jehovah`s arrow of victory, even the arrow of victory over Syria; for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And he said, Open the window eastward; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot; and he shot. And he said, Jehovah`s arrow of victory, even the arrow of victory over Syria; for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them.
2 Kings 13:17 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Kings 13

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died: and Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over him, and said, My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof!
15And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows; and he took unto him bow and arrows.
16And he said to the king of Israel, Put thy hand upon the bow; and he put his hand [upon it]. And Elisha laid his hands upon the king`s hands.
17And he said, Open the window eastward; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot; and he shot. And he said, Jehovah`s arrow of victory, even the arrow of victory over Syria; for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them.
18And he said, Take the arrows; and he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground; and he smote thrice, and stayed.
19And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times: then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it, whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.
20And Elisha died, and they buried him. Now the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And he said, open the window eastward, etc.] Syria lying east of the land of Israel, as the Jewish commentators in general observe, and for which they quote (<230912>Isaiah 9:12), but it lay northeast, or rather more to the north; wherefore this may respect the eastward part of the land of Israel, which the Syrians had got possession of, and should be recovered, as this sign showed, (see <121033>2 Kings 10:33), and he opened it: then Elisha said, shoot, and he shot; the arrow, out of the window, being opened: and he said, the arrow of the Lord’s deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria; meaning, that that arrow was a sign of the Lord’s deliverance of Israel from the Syrians, by…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Eastward - Syria of Damascus lay partly east, but still more north, of the holy land. The arrow was to be shot, eastward, not so much against Syria itself as against the scene of the recent Syrian successes, Gilead 2 Kings 10:33, which was also to be the scene of Joash’s victories over them. Aphek is almost due east from Shunem, where it is not unlikely that Elisha now was. The arrow ... - literally, “An arrow of deliverance from the Lord, and an arrow of deliverance against Syria; and thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, even to consuming.” return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Eastward - Toward Syria, which lay north - eastward, from the land of Israel: this arrow is shot against the Syrians, as a token what God intended to do against them. 4 Kings (2 Kings) 13:18”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Open: Kg2 5:10-14; Joh 2:5-8, Joh 11:39-41 The arrow: This was a symbolical action, indicative of the deliverance of Israel from Syria. It was an ancient custom to shoot an arrow or cast a spear into a country before the commencement of hostilities. Exo 4:2, Exo 4:17; Jdg 7:9-20; Sa2 5:24; Co1 1:18 Aphek: Sa1 4:1; Kg1 20:26 4 Kings (2 Kings) 13:18”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification