2 Kings 13:14 Meaning: Why a Wicked King Called Elisha Israel's Chariots
Now Elisha became sick with the illness of which he died; and Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over him, and said, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!”
Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.
Now 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!
And Elisha hath been sick with his sickness in which he dieth, and come down unto him doth Joash king of Israel, and weepeth on his face, and saith, `My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and its horsemen.'
And Elisha fell sick of his sickness in which he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over his face, and said, My father, my father! the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof!
Meaning in one sentence
King Joash visits dying Elisha and calls him 'my father, the chariots of Israel.' Why an evil king said this and what it reveals about faith.
Context
Elisha is old, sick, and dying. He has served as prophet for more than sixty years, outlasting several kings and witnessing countless miracles. Now King Joash of Israel, a king the Bible plainly calls evil, leaves his palace and comes down to the prophet's house. He bends over Elisha's face and weeps. Then he says something startling: the exact words Elisha had cried out when Elijah was taken up to heaven. 'My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!' It is the confession of a man who knows he is about to lose his nation's true defense. Yet this same king never abandoned the golden calves. The scene is tender, honest, and painfully incomplete.
Key Words
The word Joash calls Elisha, av, 'father', was not just a family title. It was a term of deep respect for a protector, a source of wisdom, even a spiritual parent. Elisha had been exactly that: a father to the kingdom when kings failed. Then comes the phrase 'chariots and horsemen' (rechev and parash), the full military strength of a nation. Joash took a word for armored war machines and applied it to a dying old man. He was saying that one faithful prophet was worth more than all the horses and chariots in Israel. The word for 'wept' (bak'khah) carries the force of loud, public grief. This was not a quiet tear. The king wept openly over the prophet he had never fully obeyed.
How Christians Read This Verse
Some commentators, like Jamieson-Fausset-Brown, see in Joash's grief a measure of genuine faith. He recognized God's power at work in Elisha, and that recognition was enough for God to give him one more gracious promise through the dying prophet. Others, like Matthew Henry, point out that Joash respected the prophet but continued in sin. He wept over Elisha but kept the calves. The Cambridge Bible wonders why such high regard for the prophet did not move the king to abolish idolatry. Across traditions, the moment is read as both a heartfelt tribute and a sobering picture of limited faith.
A common misunderstanding
It is easy to assume Joash must have been a good king because he honored the prophet so deeply. The mistake is confusing respect for a godly person with loyalty to God himself. In fact, the Bible states plainly that Joash 'did that which was evil in Yahweh's sight' and never turned from the sins of Jeroboam. He valued the prophet's prayers but not the Prophet's God. We can admire the right people and still miss the right path.
Living This Out
This week, you may have someone in your life you deeply respect, a pastor, a parent, a friend who prays. But do you honor only the person, or also the Lord they serve? Joash wept for Elisha but did not obey the words Elisha spoke. It is possible to love a teacher and ignore the lesson. Take a moment to check your own heart: is your admiration moving you closer to God, or just making you feel better about staying where you are? The truest honor is to follow the God they point to.
Main takeaway: Even a king who did evil could see that Elisha was Israel's true strength, a reminder that God's servants matter more than armies, but only if we listen to the God they serve.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
The king came to see the prophet Elisha when he was sick. The king cried because Elisha was very special. He said Elisha was like a strong army for Israel.
For ages 9, 12
King Joash did wrong things, but he knew that Elisha was more important than an army. He called him 'my father' and wept over him. We can learn that even people who don't follow God can recognize godly people. But true faith means not just honoring them, but listening to the God they serve.
Questions People Ask
Why does Joash call Elisha 'the chariots of Israel'?
He means that Elisha was more valuable to Israel than the entire army. The prophet's prayers and counsel had protected the nation many times, just like chariots and horsemen would in battle.
Was King Joash a good king?
No. The Bible says he did evil in the sight of the Lord and continued to worship the golden calves that Jeroboam had set up. His respect for Elisha did not lead him to repent or change his ways.
Why does Joash repeat the exact words Elisha said to Elijah?
When Elijah was taken up to heaven, Elisha cried, 'My father, my father, the chariots of Israel!' Now, at Elisha's deathbed, Joash uses the same phrase. It shows he sees Elisha as the true successor of Elijah, the one who has been Israel's real defense.
What does this story teach us about honoring godly people?
It is good to honor and respect those who serve God faithfully. But honoring the messenger is not the same as obeying the message. Joash respected Elisha, yet he did not follow the Lord. True honor leads to obedience.
How old was Elisha when he died?
Most commentators believe Elisha was over ninety years old. His ministry lasted about sixty-five years, from the time of King Ahab to King Joash. He served Israel through many turbulent decades.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study