The reign of Joachaz and of Joas kings of Israel. The last acts and death of Eliseus the prophet: a dead man is raised to life by the touch of his bones.
Ioachaz King of Israel is afflicted by the Syrians, 4. and deliuered. 6. Yet destroyeth not idolatrie. 8. dieth, and his sonne Ioas foloweth his euil steppes. •4. Eliseus being sicke willeth the king to shoote, 18. and to strike the earth, who striking thrise, is told that he shal thrise strike the Syrians. 20. Eliseus dieth, and a dead men is reuiued touching his bones. 22. Ioas recouereth that which the Syrians •ad taken from Israel.
1In the three and twentieth year of Joas son of Ochozias, king of Juda, Joachaz, the son of Jehu, reigned over Israel, in Samaria, seventeen years.L'anno ventitre di Gioas figliuolo di Ochozia re di Giuda, regnò Joachaz figliuolo di Jehu sopra Israele in Samaria per diciassette anni.IN the three and twenteth yeare of Ioas the sonne of Ochozias the king of Iuda, reigned Ioachaz the sonne of Iehu ouer Israel in Samaria, seuentene yeares.Anno vigesimo tertio Joas filii Ochoziæ regis Juda, regnavit Joachaz filius Jehu super Israël in Samaria decem et septem annis. 2And he did evil before the Lord, and followed the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nabat, who made Israel to sin; and he departed not from them.Ed egli fece il male nel cospetto del Signore, e imitò i peccati di Geroboam figliuolo di Nabath (il quale fece peccare Israele), né mai se ne ritrasse.And he did euil before our Lord, and folowed the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat, who made Israel to sinne, and declined not from them.Et fecit malum coram Domino, secutusque est peccata Jeroboam filii Nabat, qui peccare fecit Israël, et non declinavit ab eis. 3And the wrath of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael, the king of Syria, and into the hand of Benadad, the son of Hazael, all days.E si accese il furor del Signore contro Israele, e li diede in potere di Hazael re di Siria, e in potere di Benadad figliuolo di Hazael per tutto quel tempo.And the furie of our Lord was wrath agaynst Israel, and he deliuered them into the hand of Hazael the king of Syria, and into the hand of Benadad the sonne of Hazael, alwaies.Iratusque est furor Domini contra Israël, et tradidit eos in manu Hazaël regis Syriæ, et in manu Benadad filii Hazaël, cunctis diebus. 4But Joachaz besought the face of the Lord, and the Lord heard him: for he saw the distress of Israel, because the king of Syria had oppressed them:Ma Joachaz si presento supplichevole dinanzi al Signore, e il Signore lo esaudì, perchè egli rimirò le angustie d'Israele, straziato dai re di Siria:But Ioachaz besought the face of our Lord, and our Lord heard him for he saw the distresse of Israel, that the king of Syria had broken them:Deprecatus est autem Joachaz faciem Domini, et audivit eum Dominus: vidit enim angustiam Israël, quia attriverat eos rex Syriæ: 5And the Lord gave Israel a saviour, and they were delivered out of the hand of the king of Syria: and the children of Israel dwelt in their pavilions as yesterday and the day before.E mandò il Signore un salvatore ad Israele, e questi fu liberato dal potere dei re di Siria, onde i figliuoli d'Israele poteron vivere nelle loro tende come pell'avanti.and our Lord gaue a sauiour to Israel, and they were deliuered out of the hand of the king of Syria: and the children of Israel dwelt in their tabernacles as yesterday and the day before.et dedit Dominus salvatorem Israëli, et liberatus est de manu regis Syriæ: habitaveruntque filii Israël in tabernaculis suis sicut heri et nudiustertius.
6But yet they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel to sin, but walked in them: and there still remained a grove also in Samaria.Eglino con tutto ciò non lasciarono i peccati della casa di Geroboam, il quale indusse Israele a peccare, ma gli imitarono, conciossiache anche quel bosco rimase in piedi in Samaria.But yet they departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam who made Israel to sinne, but they walked in them: for the grone also remayned in Samaria.Verumtamen non recesserunt a peccatis domus Jeroboam, qui peccare fecit Israël, sed in ipsis ambulaverunt: siquidem et lucus permansit in Samaria. 7And Joachaz had no more left of the people than fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen: for the king of Syria had slain them, and had brought them low as dust by threshing in the barnfloor.Or della gente (da guerra) non restavano a Joachaz se non cinquanta soldati a cavallo, e dieci cocchi, e diecimila fanti; perocché il re di Siria ne avea fatto macello, e gli avea ridotti come la polvere dell'aia, dove si batte il grano.And there were leaft to Ioachaz of the people but fiftie horsemen, and ten chariotes, and ten thousand footmen: for the king of Syria had slaine them, and had brought them as dust by threshing in the barne floore.Et non sunt derelicti Joachaz de populo nisi quinquaginta equites, et decem currus, et decem millia peditum: interfecerat enim eos rex Syriæ, et redegerat quasi pulverem in tritura areæ. 8But the rest of the acts of Joachaz, and all that he did, and his valour, are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Israel?Il rimanente poi delle azioni di Joachaz, e tutto quello, ch'egli operò, e la sua fortezza, queste cose non son elleno descritte nel diario de' fatti dei re d'Israele?But the rest of the wordes of Ioachaz, and al that he did, and his strength, are not these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel?Reliqua autem sermonum Joachaz, et universa quæ fecit, et fortitudo ejus, nonne hæc scripta sunt in libro sermonum dierum regum Israël ? 9And Joachaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria: and Joas, his son, reigned in his stead.E Joachaz andò a riposare co' padri suoi, e lo seppellirono in Samaria, e Gioas suo figliuolo gli succedette nel regno.And Ioachaz slept with his fathers, & they buried him in Samaria: and Ioas his sonne reigned for him.Dormivitque Joachaz cum patribus suis, et sepelierunt eum in Samaria: regnavitque Joas filius ejus pro eo. 10In the seven and thirtieth year of Joas, king of Juda, Joas the son of Joachaz reigned over Israel, in Samaria, sixteen years.L'anno trentasettesimo di Gioas re di Giuda, Gioas figliuolo di Joachaz regnò sopra Israele in Samaria per anni sedici,In the seuen and thirteth yeare of Ioas the king of Iuda reigned Ioas the sonne of Ioachaz ouer Israel in Samaria sixtene yeares,Anno trigesimo septimo Joas regis Juda, regnavit Joas filius Joachaz super Israël in Samaria sedecim annis.
11And he did that which is evil in the sight of the Lord: he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nabat, who made Israel to sin; but he walked in them.Ed egli fece il male nel cospetto del Signore; non si ritrasse da veruno dei peccati di Geroboam figliuolo di Nabath (il quale indusse Israele a peccare), ma gli imitò.and he did that which is euil in the sight of our Lord, he declined not from al the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat, who made Israel to sinne, but he walked in them.Et fecit quod malum est in conspectu Domini: non declinavit ab omnibus peccatis Jeroboam filii Nabat, qui peccare fecit Israël, sed in ipsis ambulavit. 12But the rest of the acts of Joas, and all that he did, and his valour wherewith he fought against Amasias, king of Juda, are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Israel?Ma il rimanente delle azioni di Gioas, e tutte le cose, ch'ei fece, e il suo valore, e come ei fece guerra ad Amasia re di Giuda, tutto questo non è egli descritto nel diario de' fatti dei re a Israele?But the rest of the wordes of Ioas, and al that he did, and his strength, how he fought agaynst Amasias the king of Iuda, are not these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the dayes of the kinges of Israel?Reliqua autem sermonum Joas, et universa quæ fecit, et fortitudo ejus, quomodo pugnaverit contra Amasiam regem Juda, nonne hæc scripta sunt in libro sermonum dierum regum Israël ? 13And Joas slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne. But Joas was buried in Samaria, with the kings of Israel.E Gioas andò a riposare co' padri suoi; e Geroboam sali sul trono di lui. E Gioas fu sepolto in Samaria cogli altri re d'Israele.And Ioas slept with his fathers: but Ieroboam sate vpon his throne. Moreouer Ioas, was buried in Samaria with the kinges of Israel.Et dormivit Joas cum patribus suis: Jeroboam autem sedit super solium ejus. Porro Joas sepultus est in Samaria cum regibus Israël. 14Now Eliseus was sick of the illness whereof he died: and Joas, king of Israel, went down to him, and wept before him, and said: O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the guider thereof.Or Eliseo era malato di quella malattia, di cui morì, e Gioas re d'Israele andò a trovarlo, e piangeva dinanzi a lui, e diceva: Padre mio, padre mio, cocchio, e cocchiere d'Israele.And Eliseus was sicke of an infirmitie, wherof also he died: and Ioas the king of Israel went downe to him, and wept before him, and sayd: My father, my father, the chariote of Israel and the garder therof.Eliseus autem ægrotabat infirmitate, qua et mortuus est: descenditque ad eum Joas rex Israël, et flebat coram eo, dicebatque: Pater mi, pater mi, currus Israël et auriga ejus.
15And Eliseus said to him: Bring a bow and arrows. And when he had brought him a bow and arrows,Ed Eliseo disse: Porta qua un arco con delle frecce: e quando quegli ebbe portato l'arco, e le frecce,And Eliseus sayd to him: fetch a bow and arrowes. And when he had brought him a bow, and arrowes,Et ait illi Eliseus: Affer arcum et sagittas. Cumque attulisset ad eum arcum et sagittas, 16He said to the king of Israel: Put thy hand upon the bow. And when he had put his hand, Eliseus put his hands over the king’s hands,Egli disse al re d'Israele: Metti la tua mano sull'arco. E quando il re vi ebbe posta la mano, Eliseo pose le sue mani sulle mani del re,he sayd to the king of Israel: Put thy hand vpon the bow. And when he had put his hand, Eliseus put his handes ouer the kinges handes,dixit ad regem Israël: Pone manum tuam super arcum. Et cum posuisset ille manum suam, superposuit Eliseus manus suas manibus regis, 17And said: Open the window to the east. And when he had opened it, Eliseus said: Shoot an arrow. And he shot. And Eliseus said: The arrow of the Lord’s deliverance, and the arrow of the deliverance from Syria: and thou shalt strike the Syrians in Aphec, till thou consume them.E disse: Apri la finestra a levante. E quando quegli la ebbe aperta, disse Eliseo: Tira la freccia. Ed ei la tirò, ed Eliseo disse: Freccia di salute del Signore, freccia di salute contro la Siria: tu metterai in rotta la Siria ad Aphec fino all'esterminio.and sayd: Open the east window. And when he had opened it, Eliseus sayd: Shote an arrow. And he shot. And Eliseus sayd: The arrow of the saluation of our Lord, and the arrow of saluation agaynst Syria: and thou shalt strike Syria in Aphec, til thou consume it.et ait: Aperi fenestram orientalem. Cumque aperuisset, dixit Eliseus: Jace sagittam. Et jecit. Et ait Eliseus: Sagitta salutis Domini, et sagitta salutis contra Syriam: percutiesque Syriam in Aphec, donec consumas eam. 18And he said: Take the arrows. And when he had taken them, he said to him: Strike with an arrow upon the ground. And he struck three times, and stood still.E disse: Prendi delle frecce. E quand'ei le ebbe prese, gli disse di bel nuovo: Percuoti colle tue frecce la terra. E quegli la percosse tre volte, e si fermò:And he sayd: Take vp the arrowes. Who when he had taken them agayne, he sayd to him: Strike the earth with a iauelin. And when he had striken three times, and stood stil,Et ait: Tolle sagittas. Qui cum tulisset, rursum dixit ei: Percute jaculo terram. Et cum percussisset tribus vicibus, et stetisset,
19And the man of God was angry with him, and said: If thou hadst smitten five or six or seven times, thou hadst smitten Syria even to utter destruction: but now three times shalt thou smite it.E l'uomo di Dio si adirò contro di lui, e disse: Se tu avessi dato cinque, o sei, o sette colpi, tu avresti sconfitta la Siria fino all'ultimo esterminio: ora poi tu la porrai in rotta tre volte.the man of God was angrie with him, & sayd: If thou hadst striken fiue or six or seuen times, thou hadst striken Syria euen to destruction: but now three times shalt thou strike it.iratus est vir Dei contra eum, et ait: Si percussisses quinquies, aut sexies, sive septies, percussisses Syriam usque ad consumptionem: nunc autem tribus vicibus percuties eam. 20And Eliseus died, and they buried him. And the rovers from Moab came into the land the same year.Eliseo di poi si morì, e lo seppellirono. Or lo stesso anno i ladroni di Moab entrarono nel paese.Eliseus therfore died, and they buried him. And the rouers of Moab came into the land the same yeare.Mortuus est ergo Eliseus, et sepelierunt eum. Latrunculi autem de Moab venerunt in terram in ipso anno. 21And some that were burying a man, saw the rovers, and cast the body into the sepulchre of Eliseus. And when it had touched the bones of Eliseus, the man came to life and stood upon his feet.E certuni, che portavano a seppellire un uomo, videro i ladroni, e gettarono quel cadavere nel sepolcro di Eliseo; e toccate che ebbe le ossa di Eliseo, quell'uomo risuscitò, e si alzò su' suoi piedi.And certayne persons burying a man, saw the rouers, and threw the bodie in the sepulchre of Eliseus. Which when it had touched the bones of Eliseus, the man reuiued, and stood vpon his feete.Quidam autem sepelientes hominem, viderunt latrunculos, et projecerunt cadaver in sepulchro Elisei. Quod cum tetigisset ossa Elisei, revixit homo, et stetit super pedes suos. 22Now Hazael, king of Syria, afflicted Israel all the days of Joachaz.Hazael re di Siria straziò Israele tutto il tempo del regno di Joachaz.Hazael therfore the king of Syria afflicted Israel al the daies of Ioachaz:Igitur Hazaël rex Syriæ afflixit Israël cunctis diebus Joachaz: 23And the Lord had mercy on them, and returned to them, because of his covenant, which he had made with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob: and he would not destroy them, nor utterly cast them away, unto this present time.Ma il Signore ebbe pietà di essi, e torno a loro a causa del patto fatto da lui con Abramo, e Isacco, e Giacobbe: e non volle sperderli, né rigettarli affatto sino a questo tempo.and our Lord had mercie on them, and returned to them for his couenant, which he had with Abraham, and Isaac, and Iacob: and he would not destroy them, nor vtterly cast them away, vntil this present time.et misertus est Dominus eorum, et reversus est ad eos propter pactum suum, quod habebat cum Abraham, et Isaac, et Jacob: et noluit disperdere eos, neque projicere penitus usque in præsens tempus.
24And Hazael, king of Syria, died; and Benadad, his son, reigned in his stead.Or Hazael re di Siria morì, e gli succedette nel regno Benadad suo figliuolo.And Hazael the king of Syria died, and Benadad his sonne reigned for him.Mortuus est autem Hazaël rex Syriæ, et regnavit Benadad filius ejus pro eo. 25Now Joas the son of Joachaz, took the cities out of the hand of Benadad, the son of Hazael, which he had taken out of the hand of Joachaz, his father, by war; three times did Joas beat him, and he restored the cities to Israel.Ma Gioas figliuolo di Joachaz ritolse a Benadad figliuolo di Hazael le città, che questi avea tolte in guerra a Joachaz suo padre. Gioas tre volte lo sconfisse, ed egli rendè ad Israele quel le città.Moreouer Ioas the sonne of Ioachaz, tooke the cities out of the hand of Benadad the sonne of Hazael, which he had taken out of the hand of Ioachaz his father by the right of warre, three times did Ioas strike him, and he deliuered the cities to Israel.Porro Joas filius Joachaz tulit urbes de manu Benadad filii Hazaël, quas tulerat de manu Joachaz patris sui jure prælii: tribus vicibus percussit eum Joas, et reddidit civitates Israël.
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Year of the World 3148, Year before Christ 856.
Years. Two with his son Joas, (Usher) or three. (Capell) (Du Hamel) See ver. 10.
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Menochius
Days, while Joachaz lived, ver. 22. (Menochius)
Calmet
Yet Benadad only molested his son. (Calmet)
Haydock
Hazael proved a dreadful scourge in the hand of God, to punish his people, 4 Kings 8:12. (Haydock)
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Haydock
Saviour, in the person of Joas, (ver. 23.; Tostat) after the death of Joachaz, whose repentance preserved him, at least, in this world. (Haydock)
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Challoner
A grove, dedicated to the worship of idols. (Challoner)
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Floor. Amos (1:3.) informs us, that Hazael had crushed the inhabitants of Galaad to death with iron chariots.
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Tirinus
Valour, or personal courage, (Calmet) though he gained no complete victory. The most valiant are not always successful. (Tirinus)
Haydock
Fortiter ille facit qui miser esse potest. (Martial) (Haydock)
Tirinus
Joachaz did not quite sink under his troubles. (Tirinus)
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Year of the World 3165, Year before Christ 839.
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Year of the World 3163, Year before Christ 841.
Seven. To complete the number seventeen, (ver. 1.) it ought to be "nine" ending. (Houbigant, p. 109.) See 4 Kings 14:23.
Ibid.[Houbigant
Years. If Jeroboam reigned in the 15th year of Amasias, and his father in the 37th of Joas, and not in the 39th almost complete, this king would have held dominion eighteen years. (Ibid.[Houbigant, p. 109.?])
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Juda, who was the aggressor. See 2 Paralipomenon 25:23.
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Calmet
Throne, for ten years, along with his father. From this period the reign of Azarias must be dated, 4 Kings 15:1. (Usher) (Calmet)
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Year of the World 3165.
The illness. Hebrew, Septuagint, and Chaldean, "of his sickness whereof he also died;" insinuating that he had been before afflicted with this infirmity.
To him, probably in the same city of Samaria.
Menochius
Wept. See how he loved him! He was concerned for the welfare of his kingdom. (Menochius)
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Menochius
East, looking towards Galaad, (Hadock) which the Syrians occupied. (Menochius)
Plutarch
These actions were all significative and prophetical. The throwing of a dart was formerly the mode of declaring war. (Virgil, Aeneid ix.) Justin (ii.) says, "Alexander first threw a javelin, as against a hostile country." Thus also the ancients took possession. (Varro) (V. Max. iii., etc.) The people of Andros and Chalcis, sent each a deputy to seize Acanthos, when it had been abandoned by its inhabitants. The man from Andros, perceiving the other before him, threw his dart at the gate, and it was decided that he had thus lawfully obtained possession. (Plutarch, q. Graec.; Selden, Mare. Claus. iv.)
The action of Joas may be considered in both lights.
Menochius
Them. We do not read the particulars of this battle: but it must have been very bloody. One of the three victories (ver. 25.) of Joas was probably obtained at Aphec, (Calmet) a place memorable for the victory of Achab, over the same Syrians, 3 Kings 20:26. (Menochius)
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Haydock
Still. This shewed a degree of remissness. (Haydock)
Menochius
It was natural for the king to conclude, that the more he struck the earth, the greater would be his success; (Calmet) and the prophet had, perhaps, insinuated as much. (Menochius)
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Haydock
Angry. Septuagint, "grieved." (Haydock)
Tirinus
Or seven is omitted in Hebrew and Septuagint. This text proves that God knows what would take place conditionally. (Tirinus)
Challoner
If, etc. By this it appears, that God had revealed to the prophet that the king should overcome the Syrians, as many times as he should then strike on the ground; but, as he had not, at the same time, revealed to him how often the king would strike, the prophet was concerned to see that he struck but thrice. (Challoner)
Haydock
Joas was assured that he should consume the Syrians. But this was to be understood, provided he performed his part, (Menochius; Tirinus) and that destruction was not said to be entire. (Haydock)
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Menochius
Buried him, near Samaria. (Menochius)
St. Max
He had been chosen by Elias sixty-eight years before, and had lived eleven with him. His perfect character is given, Ecclesiasticus 48:13. His double spirit represents the plentitude of grace in Jesus Christ; as his raising of the child to life, in such a wonderful manner, denotes his incarnation. The waters of Jericho made sweet, and the healing of Naaman, set before us the virtue of baptism: as the widow's oil shews the great graces which are bestowed by Christ upon his Church. The children devoured, and the Syrians struck blind, remind us of the perversity and blindness of infidels, who will not acknowledge the truth, Matthew 13:14. We must now see how the bones of Eliseus prophesied: 1. By raising the dead to life, as a confirmation of all his former predictions; 2. as proof of a future resurrection, of the virtue of relics, and of the influence of the saints in heaven, whose souls were formerly united to their bodies, and were filled with the Holy Spirit; (St. Cyril of Jerusalem, cat. xviii. Illum.) 3. in as much as this miracle was a figure of Christ's resurrection, who raised himself to life, and those who believe in him: (Calmet) while Eliseus, in the like state of death, had only raised another. (Haydock) (St. Max., hom. 1:de pasc.)
Pagnin
Same. Septuagint, Hebrew, and Syriac, "at the coming in of the year;" (Haydock) or, "the next year." (Pagnin)
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Calmet
Eliseus. His tomb was not in the city, but in a spacious cave, the entrance of which was secured with a stone, according to custom. This was removed in the hurry, and the corpse thrown into the same recess, which had been prepared for the remains of the prophet. Josephus ([Antiquities?] 9:8.) relates the history in a different manner, and pretends that robbers having slain a person, threw his corpse accidentally into the tomb of Eliseus. The Rabbins tell us his name was Sellum, and that he died again immediately, because he was a wicked man, which would render the miracle, in a manner, useless. (Calmet)
Menochius
By it God honoured his servant, and convinced the Israelites that what he had so lately foretold, respecting the Syrians, would undoubtedly take place. (Menochius)
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Haydock
Time. Long before the captivity of Babylon, the Israelites had been led captives, to return no more in a body. Some stragglers mixed with the Jews, and inhabited the country under that appellation. It would seem that this was written before the overturning of the kingdom of Israel. (Haydock)
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Year of the World 3168.
Menochius
Israel, on the east side of the Jordan; (chap. 10:33.; Calmet) at least (Haydock) those which had been taken from his father. Jeroboam retook what had been lost by Jehu. (Menochius)
Salien
Hence both these kings are styled saviours, ver. 5., and 4 Kings 14:27. (Salien)
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A grove.... Dedicated to the worship of idols.
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If thou hadst smitten, etc.... By this it appears that God had revealed to the prophet that the king should overcome the Syrians as many times as he should then strike on the ground; but as he had not at the same time revealed to him how often the king would strike, the prophet was concerned to see that he struck but thrice.
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It was reueiled to the prophet that so often as the king should strike the earth, so often he should haue victories against the Syrians, but not how often he would strike on the. earth.
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St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom 84
And together with these things He showed Himself also by what followed after these things, by the raising of the dead. For in the instance of Elisha;
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St Ambrose of Milan † AD 397 Exposition of the Christian Faith 3.4
30. Elijah, then, raised the dead, but he prayed—he did not command. Elisha raised one to life after laying himself upon the dead body, in accordance with its posture; and, again, the very contact of Elisha’s corpse gave life to the dead, that the prophet might foreshow the coming of Him, Who, being sent in the likeness of sinful flesh,
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Eulogy 5
… For it is, it is possible for him who comes hither with faith to gather the fruit of many good things. For not the bodies only, but the very sepulchres of the saints have been filled with spiritual grace. For if in the case of Elisha this happened, and a corpse when it touched the sepulchre, burst the bands of death and returned to life again,
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom 55
And both these things are signified in the Scripture. For both they of the company of Cornelius by their faith drew unto themselves the grace of the Spirit; and in the case of Eliseus
St Jerome † AD 420 The Letters of St. Jerome 46.13
… We shall hasten, if not to the tents, to the monuments of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and of their three illustrious wives. We shall see the fountain in which the eunuch was immersed by Philip. We shall make a pilgrimage to Samaria, and side by side venerate the ashes of John the Baptist, of Elisha,
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 91.2
… and yet we know that the same was done by the prophets of olden time. For Elias did so; and Elisha also, both when alive in the flesh, and when he lay buried in his sepulchre. For when certain men, who were carrying a dead person, had fled thither for refuge from an onset of their enemies, and had laid him down therein, he instantly came again to life.
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1. In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Joachaz son of Jehu reigned over Israel. — In the time of Joash king of Judah, namely in the tenth year of his reign, Carthage was founded as a rival to Rome by Dido, who sailed from Tyre, while Pygmalion reigned, into Africa, and founded it there, as Josephus relates from the annals of the Tyrians in book I Against Appion, whom Torniellus, Gordonus, Salianus, and Scaliger follow, although others wish it founded at another time. For there are various opinions of various people on this matter. According to this opinion Carthage was founded one hundred and thirty years before Rome. Again in the fourteenth year of Joash, Lycurgus gave laws to the Spartans, which the Gentiles celebrate, but which are far inferior to Christian laws; for they permit women to live luxuriously, and to commit adultery, and boys and adolescents to steal, so that they might become cunning, and so that each one might guard his own property more carefully. Wherefore Aristotle disapproves and blames them, book II of the Republic, chapter ix. In the same year 14 of Joash, the Olympic contests began, and from them the Olympiads were named and numbered.
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5. And the Lord gave a saviour to Israel. — Who is this saviour? Some think it was an Angel, the guardian and protector of Israel, who fought for it against the Syrians and conquered, as the Angel fought for Hezekiah against Sennacherib, slaying 185,000 Assyrians. Others wish it to have been a certain man and leader sent by God, but unnamed in Scripture, and therefore unknown and uncertain to us. Others better think it was Elisha. Thus Cajetan. Or certainly King Joash of Israel strengthened by Elisha, who defeated the Syrians a third time, as follows. Wherefore throughout the time of Joachaz Israel was afflicted by the Syrians, as it is said verse 22. But after Joachaz, Joash succeeding depressed the Syrians, and restored liberty to Israel. Whence Joachaz praying to God for the salvation of Israel, obtained it for the time of the reign, not his own but that of his son Joash. Thus Abulensis.
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7. And there were not left to Joachaz of the people except fifty horsemen. — This verse confirms what I have already said: wherefore it should be connected with verse 3, and placed before verse 4, where by hyperbaton the prayer of Joachaz is interjected, and its hearing, and the promise of deliverance to be made through Joash. Thus Sanchez. And he had reduced them almost to dust in the threshing of the floor, — that is Hazael crushed and broke the Israelites, as chaff and dust are wont to be crushed and broken in the threshing floor. Thus Abulensis.
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8. And his strength, — Joachaz, although defeated by Hazael, as being the stronger, nevertheless conducted himself bravely in battles, and defended himself as much as he could.
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14. And Elisha was sick with the sickness of which he died: and the king of Israel came down to him (Joash), and wept before him, saying: My father, the chariot of Israel and the driver thereof: as if to say, Thou, O Elisha, art my father and that of Israel, inasmuch as thou didst defend me and my kingdom more than a great multitude of horsemen and chariots; thou therefore living didst as it were drive, and didst govern the kingdom of Israel; now with thee dying, who will defend me and mine against Hazael and the Syrians? The same Elisha cried out to Elijah when he was caught up into heaven, chapter ii, verse 12; see the things said there.
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16. He said to the king of Israel: Put thy hand upon the bow. And when he had put his hand, Eliseus put his hands upon the hands of the king,—to signify that his aid would be present to him, even though absent, indeed after death; for God on account of his merits would give him victory; and he in limbo would pray to God for it and would certainly obtain it. After death therefore the power and virtue of Eliseus was living, and the wonders which he was accustomed to work while living, he also worked dead. Thus Abulensis, Cajetan and others. Whence let heretics learn that Saints, especially after Christ reigning in heaven, are powerful through God, so that they can and will help us when we invoke them. Let princes and other men learn here how much the prayer and tears of holy men avail, and unless they themselves put their hands to our hands and works, we labour in vain. Tropologically, let the Doctor apply his hand of good works to the mouth of preaching, so that what he teaches by word, he may teach first by example. Thus preaching will be efficacious, and will persuade his hearers of what he preaches. Thus Angelomus and Eucherius.
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17. Open the eastern window (that thou mayest cast the victorious arrow against the Syrians, who are to Israel toward the East). And when he had opened it, Eliseus said: Shoot the arrow; and he shot, and Eliseus said: The arrow of the salvation of the Lord, and the arrow of salvation against Syria,—that is to say, I pray God that he may prosper, direct and strengthen thy arrows and those of thy soldiers (which I represent by this arrow of mine and its casting) and arms, battle and wars, so that they may strike, slay and subdue the Syrians; nor do I only pray this, but I foretell the very same thing to thee as a prophet from the mouth of God, and I promise victory over the Syrians, whence he adds: And thou shalt smite Syria in Aphec.—He alludes to the custom of the ancients, who declared war to enemies and began battle by casting an arrow or javelin into enemy territory, as the Romans did, as Servius testifies in that passage of Turnus in Virgil, Aeneid IX: Behold, he says, and hurling the javelin sends it forth into the air, The beginning of the fight. The Greeks did the same; whence soon as Alexander (the Great) touched Persia, he cast a javelin as it were into enemy territory, says Justin, lib. II. See Gellius, lib. XVI, cap. xiv, and Alexander of Alexandria, lib. IV Genial. cap. iii. Tropologically Angelomus: With his examples, he says, the Lord directs and strengthens the actions of Doctors, commanding to open the eastern window and to cast the arrow, because he exhorts his own first to be illuminated by the light of knowledge and true doctrine, and as it were to hurl the javelins of words. And a little later: The arrow of the salvation of the Lord, and the arrow of salvation against Syria; and thou shalt smite Syria in Aphec, until thou consume it. The arrow therefore of the salvation of the Lord is holy preaching, when it is properly exhibited and the most certain destruction of spiritual enemies, if it is persevered in. Nor is it right that any dispenser of the word of God should ever be sluggish and torpid, to whom it has been commanded to have care of the Lord's flock; because it greatly harms devout hearers, if sloth prevails in Doctors. For the Prophet says: Cry, cease not. Thus also Eucherius. In Aphec.—Aphec was a city in the tribe of Issachar, famous for the slaughter of enemies; for Joshua killed the king of Aphec: In this the Philistines pitched their camp, about to fight against Israel, afterwards against Saul, there also the Syrians fought against Achab king of Israel, when they said: The gods of the mountains are their gods, let us fight against them in the valleys and plains, and we shall overcome them; where also Benadad king of Syria was defeated, says Adrichomius. Until thou consume it,—understand unless thou prevent it, as it came to pass. For Joas, striking the earth only three times, struck the Syrians only three times, whom certainly he would have destroyed more often and to consumption, if he had struck the earth more often, as appears from verse 19.
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19. If thou hadst smitten five times, or six times, or seven times, thou wouldst have smitten Syria unto consumption.—That was the will and decree of God who had thus freely disposed and decreed that Joas should strike Syria as many times as he had struck the earth; which decree of God Eliseus knew, but by the command of God was unwilling to indicate to king Joas, so that it might be left to his choice to strike the earth as many times as he wished. For if Joas had known the decree of God, he would certainly have struck the earth more often with the arrow. In a similar way God attributed the victory of Joshua against Amalec to the extension of the hands and prayer of Moses, Exodus xvii, 11; and the victory of the same Joshua against the Canaanites he attributed to the raising of the shield of Joshua, cap. viii, 18. Moreover, that Joas struck the earth only three times, and therefore struck the Syrians only three times, Abulensis attributed to his sins and the worship of calves. For it was a wonder and unworthy that a king, so often admonished by Eliseus, and seeing his miracles, indeed obtaining victories against the Syrians by the aid of God, did not abandon the worship of calves, and wholly transfer himself to the veneration of the true God so beneficial to him. It is probable that he worshipped the true God, whom he had known through Eliseus, and at the same time the gods of his fathers, namely the golden calves of Jeroboam. For his father Joachaz worshipped both, as appears from verses 4 and 6. Hence God thundering against him and kings like him through Osee cap. x, 2, says: Their heart is divided, now they shall perish.
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20. Eliseus died therefore, and they buried him. — That King Joas was present at his death, and that the sons of the prophets, his disciples, now spread throughout all Israel, received from him his final admonitions of holiness and religious life, is beyond doubt. The Hebrews in the Seder Olam also assert that the prophet Amos, brother of King Amaziah and father of Isaiah, was present. Eliseus prophesied for about 66 years under six kings of Israel, namely under Achab, Ochozias, Joram, Jehu, Joachaz, and Joas. He lived more than one hundred years, eighty of them in religious discipline, and died in the year of the world 3204, according to Salianus, in the eighth year of King Amaziah of Judah, in the tenth year of King Joas of Israel, in the year 849 before Christ. He was inscribed in the catalogue of Saints in the Roman Martyrology on the 14th of June, where we read thus: "In Samaria in Palestine, of St. Eliseus the prophet, whose sepulchre St. Jerome writes that demons greatly fear." Hear St. Jerome writing at the beginning of the prophecy of Abdias: "The sepulchre of Abdias with the Mausoleum of Eliseus and of John the Baptist in Sebaste is held in veneration, which was formerly Samaria." The same author adds in the epitaph of Paula; there demons roar with various torments, and before the sepulchres of saints men howl after the manner of wolves, roar after the manner of lions, hiss like serpents, bellow with the sound of bulls. Cedrenus relates that in the time of the Emperor Leo the Great the relics of Eliseus were translated to Alexandria. Hence Julian the apostate, mixing the bones of Eliseus and the Baptist with the bones of brute beasts, wished to burn them, as is found in the life of St. Artemius in Lipomanus. For the praises of Eliseus see Eccles. xlviii, 13: "In Eliseus," he says, "his spirit was completed (that of Elias), in his days he feared not the prince, and no one overcame him in power;" see the words there. Finally, Osee succeeded Eliseus in prophecy, who prophesied under Ozias son of King Amaziah of Judah, Isaiah, Amos, Jonas, and the other greater and lesser prophets.
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21. When he had touched the bones of Eliseus, the man revived: — Wonderful was the virtue and holiness of Eliseus in that, being dead, he raised the dead to life. He himself was in this matter a type of Christ, by whose contact on the cross and by the grace and merit of the dead, we all shall rise. Thus Angelomus, Eucherius and others. Hence Ecclesiasticus gives this praise to Eliseus, cap. xlviii, 14: "And his body prophesied after his death. He prophesied," that is, he wrought a miracle by raising the dead. For miracles were the works of the Prophets, that is, of the holy men and Doctors of Israel.
Machine translation from the Latin, not reviewed.
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Hazael (Hebrew: Ḥāzā'ēl and Ḥāzā'ēl, «God sees»; Akkadian: Ḥaza'ilu; Septuagint: A'āyā)
… now, while Jehu reigned, he defeated the Israelites everywhere, occupied all of Transjordan as far as the Arnon (2 Kings 10:32 ff.; Am. 1:3 ff.); he dominated Israel: he left Jehoahaz a garrison of 10,000 foot soldiers, 50 horsemen and 10 chariots (2 Kings 13:3-22). In the south, he took Gath (798), attacked Jerusalem and withdrew for the huge sum paid by Joash (2 Kings 12:18 ff.).
… One reads indeed that throughout that time God gave the Israelites into the power of Hazael king of Syria and of his son Ben-hadad III (ibid. 13:3). Hazael was able to cross the territory of Israel freely and push south as far as to attack the kingdom of Judah and threaten its very capital Jerusalem, and he withdrew only after …
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… But when J. implored Yahweh, "the Lord gave Israel a deliverer, who freed it from the yoke of Aram and restored to it tranquility and freedom" (II Kings 13:4-6).
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It is unknown what battles were fought between J. and the Arameans: it is known only that Israel was left with barely a small garrison of about 50 horsemen, 10 war chariots and 10,000 foot soldiers (II Kings 13:7): a true catastrophe, which was followed by political enslavement. …
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… maṣṣēbhāh of Baal, and, having demolished the temple, turned it into an unclean and impure place; perhaps for this reason no trace of it has been found (1 Kings 16:23; 2 Kings 3:2; 10:18-27). Nor has the site of the royal necropolis (1 Kings 16:28; 22:37; 2 Kings 13:9; 14:16) been traced so far; however, the excavations were carried out mainly at the citadel.
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Joas (Heb. Jō'āf and Jēhō'āf; Greek: 'Iōzōz)
… Assyria, under Adad-nirari III, was pressing on Damascus; I. took advantage of this: he defeated Ben-hadad III three times, according to the prophecy of the dying Elisha (2 Kings 13:14-19), reconquering the cities taken from Israel by Hazael, at least those on this side of the Jordan (2 Kings 13:10-13, 22-25). Challenged by Amaziah, perhaps over a question of family prestige, he defeated him at Beth-shemesh and took him prisoner; he entered Jerusalem, dismantled ca. 200 m. of the northern …
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1 and 2 (3 and 4) Book of Kings
… Among the various cases of this kind let us note: I Reg. 5, 1 and 5, 4 (extension of Solomon's dominion); ibid. 5, 6-30 and 10, 23-36 (wealth and magnificence of Solomon; tributes paid to him); ibid. 9, 28 and 10, 11 (riches imported from Ophir); II Reg. 13, 12 ff.
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… The concept of a personal responsibility, which became ever clearer with the progress of Revelation, joined with that so widespread in the Old Testament (cf. Wis. 10:2; Num. 20:12; II Kings 13:13-14) according to which, once the sin is forgiven, there remains a temporal punishment to be expiated, is an important presupposition of the doctrine of P. If to this explicit conception …
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… cf. Jer. 2, 27), hence God (Deut. 32, 6; Is. 63, 16; Eccli. 51, 10). 4) Benefactor (Iob 29, 16), one who takes care of others (Is. 9, 5; 22, 21). 5) Teacher ('a. is an honorary title, given to priests and prophets even by kings: II Reg. 6, 21; 8, 9; 13, 14; Iudc. 17, 10; 18, 19), as in the title of the treatise Aboth (v.); whence the teacher often calls the disciple "son" (Prov. 4, 10, 20; 5, 1, 20; 6, 1, 3; 7, 1, 24; Ps. 44 [45], 11; …
Eliseus ('Elīlā' = "God Saves")
of Elijah against the house of Ahab, he ferociously destroys all its members and kills all the worshippers of Baal (II Kings 9-10). Finally, to King Joash who visits him, the dying E. predicts that he will defeat the Arameans three times (II Kings 13, 14-19).
Joas (Heb. Jō'āf and Jēhō'āf; Greek: 'Iōzōz)
… Assyria, under Adad-nirari III, was pressing on Damascus; I. took advantage of this: he defeated Ben-hadad III three times, according to the prophecy of the dying Elisha (2 Kings 13:14-19), reconquering the cities taken from Israel by Hazael, at least those on this side of the Jordan (2 Kings 13:10-13, 22-25). Challenged by Amaziah, perhaps over a question of family …
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Aphec (Hebrew 'Āphīq or 'Āphēq, "Fortress" or "Watercourse")
5. Place where Ahab king of Israel defeated Ben-hadad II king of Syria (I Kings 20:26-30), and later Jehoash king of Israel overcame Ben-hadad III (II Kings 13:17-25). It is to be placed east of the lake of Tiberias; it corresponds to present-day Fiq in the Golan, 2 1/2 km east-northeast of el-Ḥoṣn (Hippos).
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Eliseus ('Elīlā' = "God Saves")
… people (ibid., 4, 42-44). He cured the Syrian Naaman of leprosy, and Naaman became a faithful Yahwist, and he punished the greed of Gehazi, transferring to him the former's leprosy (II Kings 5). At the touch of E.'s bones a dead man came back to life (II Kings 13, 20 f.). Cf. Ecclus. 48, 12-14.
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Thus, in the Old Testament, Elijah (I Kings 17:17-24) raises the son of the widow of Zarephath; Elisha (II Kings 4:28-37) calls back from death the son of the Shunammite woman; after his death, his bones, by mere contact, restore life to a man being carried to burial (II Kings 13:21). In the New Testament, the three resurrections performed by Jesus: the son of the widow of Nain (Lk. 7:11-16), the twelve-year-old daughter of Jairus (Mk. 5:22-24, 25-42), the beloved …
I. TRUTH OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD. - I. Scripture. - In the Old Testament the revelation of this truth was progressive, in harmony with slow divine preparations (Yahweh, God of life: Gen. 5:24; Deut. 32:39; I Kings 17; II Kings 2:3, 11-12; 4:33-36; 13:21; Ps. 9:2; Wis. 2:24; 16:13) and with deep aspirations of the human heart (permanent familiarity with God: Gen. 3:8; Is. 38:18; Ps. 6:5-6; 73:25; otherworldly justice as the …
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Benadad (Hebrew Ben-Hâdhad "Son of Hadad"; Septuagint ΥἹῸΣ ἈΔΈΡ)
B. III, son of Hazael, was beaten three times by Jehoash, king of Israel (798-783; II Kings 13:22-25).
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… Then Joash, son of Jehoahaz of Israel, recovered from D. the cities that Hazael had taken from his father (II Kings 13, 25). Toward the end of the 9th century B.C. the Assyrian Adad-nirāri III defeated Mari king of D. and made him a vassal.
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BLASPHEMY. - Etymologically, b. (from βλάστιο = to harm and φήμη = voice) means "injurious word." In Sacred Scripture this term designates the uttering of insult either against God or against creatures (II Sam. 21:21; II Reg. 13:28-35; 19:10, 13, 22; Ez. 20:27; Tob. 13:16; I Par. 20:7; I Cor. 4:13; 10:30; Tit. 3:2); but according to the observation of St. Augustine: "blasphemia non accipitur nisi mala …
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · Vulgata Clementina · original Douay-Rheims (Douay 1609-10), transcription by EEBO-TCP (CC0) · La Sacra Bibbia, tradotta dalla Volgata da Antonio Martini (1769-1781) (LaParola (laparola.net), Martini OSIS text, Public domain (LaParola's electronic edition marks it 'Dominio pubblico')). Public domain.