Changes

== Consultation with Elisha ==

== Consultation with Elisha ==

Shortly after presiding over his father's funeral, Joash came to see the prophet [[Elisha]]. Elisha was ill and close to death. Joash said to him, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and its horsemen!"—the exact same words that Elisha had uttered to the departing [[Elijah]] on the day of his own investiture. Elisha asked Joash to pick up a bow and arrows, notch an arrow into the bow, and shoot, and told Joash that he would win in war against the [[Syria]]ns. Then Elisha asked Joash to strike the floor with the arrows—and Joash struck the floor only three times. Elisha told him that because he had stopped striking the floor, he would have only three victories against Syria in war.<ref name=Ussher/><ref name=Wood/><ref name=GeoCities/><ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Kings|chap=13|verses=14-19}}</ref>

Shortly after presiding over his father's funeral, Joash came to see the prophet [[Elisha]]. Elisha was ill and close to death. Joash said to him, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and its horsemen!"—exactly the same words that Elisha had uttered to the departing [[Elijah]] on the day of his own investiture. Elisha asked Joash to pick up a bow and arrows, notch an arrow into the bow, and shoot, and told Joash that he would win in war against the [[Syria]]ns. Then Elisha asked Joash to strike the floor with the arrows—and Joash struck the floor only three times. Elisha told him that because he had stopped striking the floor, he would have only three victories against Syria in war.<ref name=Ussher/><ref name=Wood/><ref name=GeoCities/><ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Kings|chap=13|verses=14-19}}</ref>

Shortly after that prophecy was uttered, King [[Hazael]] died, and his son [[Benhadad II]] reigned in his stead. Joash led the tiny remnant of an army that his father had left him and scored three victories against Benhadad, each time recovering a number of Israelite cities.<ref name=Wood/>

Shortly after that prophecy was uttered, King [[Hazael]] died, and his son [[Benhadad II]] reigned in his stead. Joash led the tiny remnant of an army that his father had left him and scored three victories against Benhadad, each time recovering a number of Israelite cities.<ref name=Wood/>