And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed.
And he said, 'Take the arrows.' So he took them. Then he said to the king of Israel, 'Strike the ground with them.' The king struck the ground three times and then stopped.
The prophet told the king to strike the ground with arrows, but the king only struck three times before stopping.
📚 Historical Context
This event took place during the reign of King Joash of Israel, a period marked by ongoing conflicts with the Arameans, as the nation struggled under foreign threats. The prophet Elisha, nearing the end of his life, used a symbolic act with arrows to convey God's promise of victory, instructing the king to demonstrate faith through this gesture. The king's actions reflected the broader historical context of Israel's wavering obedience to God amid political and military challenges.
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