THE LESSONS

2 Kings 13:14-20a
A sick and dying Elisha promises victory over Syria to Joash, king of Israel. This, the last appearance of Elisha, concludes the series of Lessons on Elijah and his successor, Elisha. The scene is Elisha on his death-bed. Joash, king of Israel, comes to him for guidance. He and the country are in deep trouble. Syria is oppressing Israel. With the symbol of a bow and arrow, Elisha promises victory over Syria as Joash shoots an arrow from Elisha's window toward the East. Again, in a symbolic way Elisha orders Joash to take arrows and strike the ground. He does so three times, but Elisha becomes angry because he struck only three times meaning Syria would be defeated that many times. Elisha tells Joash that if he had struck twice as many times it would have been…