以利沙離世 列王記下 13
- 馬克牧師
- Sep 29, 2024
- 12 min read
Updated: Oct 3, 2024
以色列王約哈斯
1 猶大王亞哈謝的兒子約阿施二十三年，耶戶的兒子約哈斯在撒馬利亞登基作以色列王十七年。 2約哈斯行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，效法尼八的兒子耶羅波安使以色列人陷在罪裏的那罪，總不離開。 3於是，耶和華的怒氣向以色列人發作，將他們屢次交在亞蘭王哈薛和他兒子便‧哈達的手裏。 4約哈斯懇求耶和華，耶和華就應允他，因為見以色列人所受亞蘭王的欺壓。 5耶和華賜給以色列人一位拯救者，使他們脫離亞蘭人的手；於是以色列人仍舊安居在家裏。 6然而他們不離開耶羅波安家使以色列人陷在罪裏的那罪，仍然去行，並且在撒馬利亞留下亞舍拉。 7亞蘭王滅絕約哈斯的民，踐踏他們如禾場上的塵沙，只給約哈斯留下五十馬兵，十輛戰車，一萬步兵。 8約哈斯其餘的事，凡他所行的和他的勇力都寫在以色列諸王記上。 9約哈斯與他列祖同睡，葬在撒馬利亞。他兒子約阿施接續他作王。
以色列王約阿施
10 猶大王約阿施三十七年，約哈斯的兒子約阿施在撒馬利亞登基作以色列王十六年。 11他行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，不離開尼八的兒子耶羅波安使以色列人陷在罪裏的一切罪，仍然去行。 12約阿施其餘的事，凡他所行的和他與猶大王亞瑪謝爭戰的勇力，都寫在以色列諸王記上。 13約阿施與他列祖同睡，耶羅波安坐了他的位。約阿施與以色列諸王一同葬在撒馬利亞。
以利沙去世
14 以利沙得了必死的病，以色列王約阿施下來看他，伏在他臉上哭泣，說：「我父啊！我父啊！以色列的戰車馬兵啊！」 15以利沙對他說：「你取弓箭來。」王就取了弓箭來； 16又對以色列王說：「你用手拿弓。」王就用手拿弓。以利沙按手在王的手上， 17說：「你開朝東的窗戶。」他就開了。以利沙說：「射箭吧！」他就射箭。以利沙說：「這是耶和華的得勝箭，就是戰勝亞蘭人的箭；因為你必在亞弗攻打亞蘭人，直到滅盡他們。」 18以利沙又說：「取幾枝箭來。」他就取了來。以利沙說：「打地吧！」他打了三次，便止住了。 19神人向他發怒，說：「應當擊打五六次，就能攻打亞蘭人直到滅盡；現在只能打敗亞蘭人三次。」
20 以利沙死了，人將他葬埋。到了新年，有一羣摩押人犯境， 21有人正葬死人，忽然看見一羣人，就把死人拋在以利沙的墳墓裏，一碰着以利沙的骸骨，死人就復活，站起來了。
以色列與亞蘭爭戰
22 約哈斯年間，亞蘭王哈薛屢次欺壓以色列人。 23耶和華卻因與亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各所立的約，仍施恩給以色列人，憐恤他們，眷顧他們，不肯滅盡他們，尚未趕逐他們離開自己面前。
24 亞蘭王哈薛死了，他兒子便‧哈達接續他作王。 25從前哈薛和約阿施的父親約哈斯爭戰，攻取了些城邑，現在約哈斯的兒子約阿施三次打敗哈薛的兒子便‧哈達，就收回了以色列的城邑。
各位弟兄姊妹，平安！
我們今天繼續來看《列王紀下》13章的故事。在讀經的過程中，你可能會發現，許多名字在經文中不斷重複，甚至同樣的名字會被多次使用，這讓我們有時候讀起來會感覺有些拗口，甚至有時候會混淆，不確定經文到底在講哪位人物。
比如說，無論是猶大的君王還是以色列的君王，都有叫約阿施或約哈斯的名字，所以我們讀的時候需要特別留意，稍微花點時間去辨認和區分不同的人物，這樣我們才能更清楚地理解經文中的歷史脈絡與上帝的教導。
我們首先會注意到，在這些經文中不斷提到的關鍵點之一，就是「效法尼巴的兒子耶羅波安，使以色列人陷入罪中的那罪，總不離開」。這一罪被反覆提到三次，但經文中並沒有直接解釋這到底是什麼罪。然而，我們知道這指的是拜金牛犢的罪。
那麼，為什麼這個拜金牛犢的罪在以色列中如此難以根除呢？這是一個深層的問題，涉及信仰、文化和政治。這段故事記載在列王記上12章裡。
首先，拜金牛犢的習俗早在耶羅波安設立金牛犢時就深深扎根於以色列的宗教生活中。第一次我們看到有金牛犢的記載是在出埃及記32章，以色列民在摩西上山領受啟示的時候擅自要求亞綸設立金牛犢，這引發了一次大災難，很多以色列民受到懲罰。而這一次是耶羅波安在成立北國以色列，為了避免北國的百姓回到耶路撒冷敬拜上帝，影響自己的政治立場，就要求百姓像這兩個錯誤的偶像獻祭，並且沒有用利未人來作為祭司，甚至改變上帝要求的獻祭方式。
他為了私心和政治目的，誤導百姓違背了上帝的律法，陷在罪裡。因此歷代的以色列國王都繼續引用這一件事情，目的都只是為了維護自己的政治利益。
這件事情確實值得我們深思。有時候，我們是否也會出於私心，試圖擅自解釋或修改上帝的旨意？我們是否沒有真正把上帝的話語放在首位，而是把自己的要求和利益擺在優先位置，甚至以這樣的態度來參與教會和屬靈的事工？我們可能在不知不覺中把上帝的旨意扭曲成符合我們自己期望的樣子，甚至合理化我們的選擇和行動。當我們不再以神的話語為絕對的標準，而是以自己的方便和利益為中心，我們就可能偏離正道。
在這章經文中，還有一件非常重要的事情，就是先知以利沙過世。他病得很重，即將去世，以色列王約阿施來看望他。這時，約阿施說出了一句非常重要的話：「我父啊，我父啊！以色列的戰車馬兵啊！」這句話也是以利沙當年在他的師父以利亞被接升天之前，對他所說的話。約阿施雖然靈性不足，但至少他也看見了，上帝與以利沙同在，就勝過所有的以色列戰車和馬兵的能力。
在這裡，以利沙給了約阿施最後的臨終指示。他要求約阿施射箭，並且告訴他這箭象徵著上帝要幫助以色列打敗亞蘭人的勝利。然而，我們看到，當以利沙讓約阿施敲擊地面時，約阿施僅僅敲了三次，並沒有表現出多大的認真和熱忱。以利沙對此感到失望，因為這行動代表了上帝給他擊敗亞蘭人的機會，但他卻沒能充分把握。
想像一下，如果先知告訴你，這個動作象徵著上帝會幫助你打敗你世代的仇敵，你會怎麼做？我可能會不停地敲擊地面，直到把箭頭敲斷了都不會停下來！這是一個彰顯信心和決心的時刻，但約阿施的行動顯示出他並沒有完全理解或把握上帝賜給他的這個應許，庸庸懶懶地敲三下就停手了。這個行為也表達出他的不成熟，以致於錯過了一個可以一勞永逸打敗亞蘭的大好機會。
這個故事讓我們思考，我們是否在上帝給我們的應許和機會面前表現出足夠的信心和熱情？我們是否全心全意地去抓住上帝的祝福，還是像約阿施一樣，缺乏足夠的信心和行動？
而最後，正如以利亞升天時有神蹟發生，以利沙雖然死了，卻一樣有神蹟顯現。我們看到，有人在葬禮過程中，因為遇到敵人而匆忙將一具屍體丟入以利沙的墳墓，這具屍體碰到了以利沙的骸骨，竟然使死人復活！這個神蹟再次彰顯了以利沙所承載的屬靈能力，甚至在他死後仍然擁有這樣的大能。
這對師徒——以利亞與以利沙——的傳奇故事就此告一段落。以利亞在他的一生中行了七次重大的神蹟，而以利沙行了14次神蹟，正好是他的師父的兩倍。最後，以利沙的骸骨竟然還擁有如此大的能力，上帝為北國以色列安排了這兩位大能的先知，為要導正以色列，但是直到他們兩位都離世，以色列似乎一直都沒有走上歸正的道路。
以色列似乎越來越難回到正軌。接下來，我們將繼續閱讀《列王記下》第14章的故事，看看以色列的命運將如何發展。感謝各位的聆聽！
Jehoahaz King of Israel
In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord by following the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit, and he did not turn away from them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel, and for a long time he kept them under the power of Hazael king of Aram and Ben-Hadad his son.
Then Jehoahaz sought the Lord’s favor, and the Lord listened to him, for he saw how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel. The Lord provided a deliverer for Israel, and they escaped from the power of Aram. So the Israelites lived in their own homes as they had before. But they did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit; they continued in them. Also, the Asherah pole remained standing in Samaria.
Nothing had been left of the army of Jehoahaz except fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers, for the king of Aram had destroyed the rest and made them like the dust at threshing time.
As for the other events of the reign of Jehoahaz, all he did and his achievements, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? Jehoahaz rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. And Jehoash his son succeeded him as king.
Jehoash King of Israel
In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned sixteen years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn away from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit; he continued in them.
As for the other events of the reign of Jehoash, all he did and his achievements, including his war against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? Jehoash rested with his ancestors, and Jeroboam succeeded him on the throne. Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
Now Elisha had been suffering from the illness from which he died. Jehoash king of Israel went down to see him and wept over him. “My father! My father!” he cried. “The chariots and horsemen of Israel!”
Elisha said, “Get a bow and some arrows,” and he did so. “Take the bow in your hands,” he said to the king of Israel. When he had taken it, Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands.
“Open the east window,” he said, and he opened it. “Shoot!” Elisha said, and he shot. “The Lord’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram!” Elisha declared. “You will completely destroy the Arameans at Aphek.”
Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and the king took them. Elisha told him, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped. The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times.”
Elisha died and was buried.
Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet.
Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz. But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. To this day he has been unwilling to destroy them or banish them from his presence.
Hazael king of Aram died, and Ben-Hadad his son succeeded him as king. Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz recaptured from Ben-Hadad son of Hazael the towns he had taken in battle from his father Jehoahaz. Three times Jehoash defeated him, and so he recovered the Israelite towns.
Dear brothers and sisters, peace to you all!
Today, we continue with the story from 2 Kings 13. As you read through the passage, you may notice that many names are repeated multiple times, which can sometimes make the reading feel cumbersome and confusing. It can be difficult to discern exactly which person the scripture is referring to at times.
For example, both the kings of Judah and the kings of Israel share names like Joash and Jehoahaz. Therefore, when reading, it is important to pay close attention, take the time to distinguish the characters, and understand the historical context in order to grasp God’s teachings in the passage.
One key point that is repeatedly mentioned in this scripture is that the kings "followed the sins of Jeroboam, son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin, and did not turn away from it." This sin is mentioned three times, though the scripture does not explicitly explain what it is. However, we know that this refers to the sin of worshiping the golden calves.
So, why was the sin of worshiping the golden calves so difficult to eradicate in Israel? This is a deeper issue that touches upon faith, culture, and politics. The story of Jeroboam’s golden calves is recorded in 1 Kings 12.
The custom of worshiping the golden calves was deeply rooted in Israel’s religious life since the time Jeroboam established them. The first time we encounter the golden calf is in Exodus 32, when the Israelites, during Moses’ absence, pressured Aaron to make a golden calf. This led to a great disaster, and many Israelites were punished. In Jeroboam’s case, he set up two golden calves in the northern kingdom of Israel to prevent his people from returning to Jerusalem to worship God, which would have weakened his political position. He led the people to offer sacrifices to these false idols and appointed non-Levite priests, even altering the prescribed methods of sacrifice.
Jeroboam’s actions were driven by selfishness and political motives, misleading the people into sinning against God’s law. Subsequent kings of Israel perpetuated this sin to preserve their political power.
This story challenges us to reflect on our own lives. Are we, at times, motivated by selfish desires when we interpret or modify God’s will? Do we truly place God's Word first, or do we prioritize our own needs and interests, even in how we engage with the church and spiritual matters? It’s possible that we unknowingly distort God’s will to align with our own desires, justifying our choices and actions. When we no longer treat God’s Word as the ultimate standard, but instead focus on our convenience and benefits, we risk straying from the right path.
In this passage, there is another significant event: the death of the prophet Elisha. Elisha became gravely ill, and King Joash of Israel came to visit him. During the visit, Joash exclaimed, “My father, my father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” This was the same phrase Elisha had said to his mentor Elijah when he was taken up to heaven. Though Joash was spiritually lacking, at least he recognized that God’s presence with Elisha was more powerful than any chariots or horsemen of Israel.
At this moment, Elisha gave Joash his final instructions. He told Joash to shoot arrows, explaining that the arrows represented the Lord’s victory over Aram. However, when Elisha asked Joash to strike the ground, Joash only struck it three times, showing little seriousness or passion. Elisha was disappointed, as this action symbolized the opportunity God had given Joash to defeat Aram, but Joash had not fully seized it.
Imagine if a prophet told you that a certain action would symbolize God helping you defeat your lifelong enemies—what would you do? I would keep striking the ground until the arrow broke! This was a moment to demonstrate faith and determination, but Joash’s lackluster response showed that he did not fully understand or grasp the promise God had given him. By striking only three times, Joash missed the opportunity to completely defeat Aram.
This story encourages us to ask ourselves: Are we showing enough faith and enthusiasm when faced with the promises and opportunities God gives us? Do we fully commit to receiving God's blessings, or do we, like Joash, lack the necessary faith and action?
Finally, just as miracles occurred at Elijah’s departure, so too did a miracle occur after Elisha’s death. During a burial, some men hastily threw a dead body into Elisha’s tomb, and when the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came back to life! This miracle once again demonstrated the spiritual power that Elisha carried, even after his death.
With this event, the legendary story of the prophetic pair, Elijah and Elisha, comes to an end. Elijah performed seven great miracles in his lifetime, while Elisha performed fourteen—exactly double his master’s. Even Elisha’s bones possessed extraordinary power after his death. God appointed these two powerful prophets for Israel, attempting to correct the nation. However, despite their presence, Israel seemed unable to truly turn back to the right path.
Israel’s return to righteousness seemed increasingly difficult. Next, we will continue reading from 2 Kings 14 to see how the fate of Israel unfolds.
Thank you all for listening!
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