This is a simplified version of the Bible story found in 2 Kings 13:14-20, written for children to understand. For the original version, please refer to the Bible passage.
Once upon a time, there was a man named Elisha. He was a prophet of God who did many good things. One day, Elisha got very sick, and he knew he was going to die soon.
The king of Israel, named Joash, came to see Elisha and cried because he was so sad. Joash called Elisha his father and said he was like the chariots and horsemen of Israel. It means that Elisha was very important to the people, like a big army.
Elisha wanted to give Joash a message from God, so he asked him to get a bow and arrows. Joash did what Elisha asked, and Elisha told him to shoot an arrow out of the window. Then Elisha said that the arrow meant that Joash would have victory over the enemy Syria.
After that, Elisha told Joash to hit the ground with the arrows. Joash did it three times and then stopped. Elisha got upset with Joash and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Syria until you had made an end of it, but now you will strike down Syria only three times.”
This means that Elisha wanted Joash to do more, because if he had, he could have won more battles against Syria. Joash should have listened and done exactly what Elisha said, but he didn’t.
Eventually, Elisha died and was buried. Then the Moabites come and invade the land in the springtime.
Biblical Lessons
- It is important to show respect and honor to our elders and those in positions of authority.
- Obedience is key to fulfilling God’s plan for our lives.
- Sometimes we may not fully understand what God is asking of us, but we must trust in His plan.
- We should always strive to do our best and not settle for doing the minimum required.
Related Stories
Elisha Raises the Shunammite’s Son
Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath