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Venerdi, 29 marzo 2024 - Santi Simplicio e Costantino ( Letture di oggi)

2 Kings 13


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1In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king ofIsrael in Samaria. He reigned for seventeen years.2He did what is displeasing to Yahweh and copied the sin into which Jeroboam son of Nebat had ledIsrael; he did not give it up.3This aroused Yahweh's anger against the Israelites, and he delivered them without respite into thepower of Hazael king of Aram and of Ben-Hadad son of Hazael.4Jehoahaz, however, tried to placate Yahweh, and Yahweh heard him, for he had seen the oppressionwhich the king of Aram was inflicting on Israel.5Yahweh gave Israel a saviour who freed them from the grip of Aram, and the Israelites lived in theirtents as in the past.6But they did not give up the sin into which Jeroboam had led Israel; they persisted in it, and even thesacred pole stayed standing in Samaria.7Of Jehoahaz's army Yahweh left only fifty horsemen, ten chariots and ten thousand foot soldiers. Theking of Aram had destroyed them, making them like dust trampled under foot.8The rest of the history of Jehoahaz, his entire career, his prowess, is this not recorded in the Book ofthe Annals of the Kings of Israel?9Then Jehoahaz fel asleep with his ancestors, and was buried in Samaria; his son Joash succeededhim.10In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, became king of Israel inSamaria. He reigned for sixteen years.11He did what is displeasing to Yahweh, he did not give up the sin into which Jeroboam son of Nebathad led Israel; he persisted in it.12The rest of the history of Joash, his entire career, his prowess, how he waged war on Amaziah king ofJudah, is this not recorded in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel?13Then Joash fel asleep with his ancestors, and Jeroboam ascended his throne. Joash was buried inSamaria with the kings of Israel.14When Elisha had fal en il of the il ness of which he was to die, Joash king of Israel went down to himand shedding tears over him said, 'Father! Father! Chariot of Israel and its chargers!'15Elisha said to him, 'Bring bow and arrows,' and he sent for a bow and arrows.16Then Elisha said to the king, 'Draw the bow,' and he drew it. Elisha put his hands over the hands ofthe king,17then he said, 'Open the window towards the east,' and he opened it. Then Elisha said, 'Shoot!' And heshot. Elisha said, 'Arrow of victory over Aram! You wil defeat Aram at Aphek-completely.'18Elisha said, 'Take the arrows,' and he took them. Then he said to the king, 'Strike the ground,' and hestruck it three times, then stopped.19At this the man of God grew angry with him. 'You should have struck half a dozen times,' he said, 'andyou would have beaten Aram completely; now you wil beat Aram only three times.'20Elisha died and was buried. Bands of Moabites were making incursions into the country every year.21Some people happened to be carrying a man out for burial; at the sight of one of these bands, theyflung the man into the tomb of Elisha and made off. The man had no sooner touched the bones of Elisha than hecame to life and stood up on his feet.22Hazael king of Aram had oppressed the Israelites throughout the lifetime of Jehoahaz,23but Yahweh was kind and took pity on them. Because of the covenant which he had made withAbraham, Isaac and Jacob, he relented towards them; he had no wish to destroy them, he did not cast them outof his presence.24Hazael king of Aram died, and his son Ben-Hadad succeeded him.25From Ben-Hadad son of Hazael, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz recaptured the towns which Hazael hadseized from his father Jehoahaz by force of arms. Joash defeated him three times and recovered the Israelitetowns.