ore long, the
conditions being favourable, they shook off their apathy and initiated
a more vigorous policy, each in his own kingdom. Mari had been succeeded
by a certain Ben-hadad, also a son of Hazael,* and possibly this change
of kings was accompanied by one of those revolutions which had done so
much to weaken Damascus: Jehoash rebelled and defeated Ben-hadad near
Aphek and in three subsequent engagements, but he failed to make his
nation completely independent, and the territory beyond Jordan still
remained in the hands of the Syrians.** We are told that before
embarking on this venture he went to consult the aged Elisha, then on
his deathbed. He wept to see him in this extremity, and bending over
him, cried out, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the
horsemen thereof!" The prophet bade him take bow and arrows and shoot
from the window toward the East. The king did so, and Elisha said, "The
Lord's arrow of victory *** over Syria; for thou shalt smite the Syrians
in Aphek till thou have consumed them."

* 2 Kings xiii. 24, 25. Winckler is of opinion that Mari and
Ben-hadad, son of Hazael, were one and the same person.

** 2 Kings xiii. 25, The term "saviour" in 2 Kings xiii. 5
is generally taken as referring to Joash: Winckler, however,
prefers to apply it to the King of Assyria. The biblical
text does not expressly state that Joash failed to win back
the districts of Gilead from the Syrians, but affirms that
he took from them the cities which Hazael "had taken out of
the hand of Jehoahaz, his father." Ramah of Gilead and the
cities previously annexed by Jehoahaz must, therefore, have
remained in the hands of Ben-hadad.

*** [Heb. "salvation;" A.V. "deliverance."--Tr.]

Then he went on: "Take the arrows," and the king took them; then he
said, "Smite upon the ground," and the king smote thrice and stayed.
And 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."* Amaziah,
on his side, had routed the Edomites in the Valley of Salt, one of
David's former battle-fields, and had captured their capital, Sela.**
Elated by his success, he believed himself strong enough to break the
tie of vassalage which bound him to Israel, and sent a challenge to
Jehoash in Samaria. The latter, surprised at his audaci