And Elisha died and was buried. Now the Moabite raiders used to come into the land every spring.
Parallel translations
- WEB Elisha died, and they buried him. Now the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.
- KJV And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.
- NKJV Then Elisha died, and they buried him. And the raiding bands from Moab invaded the land in the spring of the year.
- NASB And Elisha died, and they buried him. Now the marauding bands of the Moabites would invade the land in the spring of the year.
- NLT Then Elisha died and was buried. Groups of Moabite raiders used to invade the land each spring.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Elisha dies and is buried, and Moabite raiding bands invade the land at the turn of the year.
Overview
The great prophet's death closes a long ministry of God's word and wonders in Israel, yet the immediate mention of Moabite raids shows the nation's continued vulnerability under judgment for its sins. Elisha's passing does not mean God's power has departed, as the very next verse will show. The scene reminds us that God's servants die, but His word and purposes endure beyond them.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- 2 Kgs 24:2And the LORD sent Chaldean, Aramean, Moabite, and Ammonite raiders against Jehoiakim in order to destroy Judah, according to the word that the LORD had spoken through His servants the prophets.
- 2 Kgs 3:7And he sent a message to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?” “I will go,” replied Jehoshaphat. “I am like you, my people are your people, and my horses are your horses.”
- Judg 3:12Once again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD. So He gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.
- 2 Kgs 3:5But after the death of Ahab, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
- 2 Chr 24:16And Jehoiada was buried with the kings in the City of David, because he had done what was good in Israel for God and His temple.
- 2 Kgs 3:24–27But when the Moabites came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and attacked them, and they fled before them. So the Israelites invaded their land and struck down the Moabites.
- 2 Kgs 5:2At this time the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken a young girl from the land of Israel, and she was serving Naaman’s wife.
- 2 Kgs 6:23So the king prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. And the Aramean raiders did not come into the land of Israel again.
- Acts 8:2God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.
- Judg 6:3–6Whenever the Israelites would plant their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and other people of the east would come up and invade them,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Amid the long decline toward exile, the promise to David's house refuses to die; the flickering lamp kept burning anticipates the coming King who will not fail or be cut off.
How 2 Kings 13:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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