The Meaning of 2 Kings 13:20 Explained

2 Kings 13:20

KJV: And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.

YLT: And Elisha dieth, and they bury him, and troops of Moab come in to the land, at the coming in of the year,

Darby: And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.

ASV: And Elisha died, and they buried him. Now the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Elisha  died,  and they buried  him. And the bands  of the Moabites  invaded  the land  at the coming in  of the year. 

What does 2 Kings 13:20 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Kings 13:10-25 - "the Arrow Of The Lord's Deliverance"
A good man is a great defense to his country. Mary, Queen of Scots, dreaded the prayers of Knox more than the armies of the king of France. Perhaps the king expected that Elisha also might pass home to God in a chariot of fire, as Elijah had done.
Notice how much Israel missed through the unbelief of her king. If only he had smitten five or six times, Syria would have been consumed; but he was content with striking only three times. Let us not ask small things of God, or be content with a partial deliverance. Nothing pleases Him more than to be greatly trusted. For those who ask and expect the most, He will always go beyond all that they ask or think. Strike on the ground, child of God, nor stay thy striking. Claim the absolute overthrow of the power of Satan, which antagonizes and resists the coming of the Kingdom. Claim the salvation of your fatherland from the tyranny of drink, gambling, and impurity! Open the windows heavenward and Godward strike within and shoot without. It is not enough to do either without the other. And remember that unseen hands are empowering and guiding thine! Compare Genesis 49:24.
For Review Questions, see the e-Sword Book Comments. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Kings 13

1  Jehoahaz's wicked reign
3  Jehoahaz, oppressed by Hazael, is relieved by prayer
8  Joash succeeds him
10  His wicked reign
12  Jeroboam succeeds him
14  Elisha dying, prophesies to Joash three victories over the Syrians
20  The Moabites invading the land, Elisha's bones raise a dead man
22  Joash gets three victories over Ben-hadad

What do the individual words in 2 Kings 13:20 mean?

And died Elisha and they buried him and the [raiding] bands from Moab invaded the land in the spring of the year
וַיָּ֥מָת אֱלִישָׁ֖ע וַֽיִּקְבְּרֻ֑הוּ וּגְדוּדֵ֥י מוֹאָ֛ב יָבֹ֥אוּ בָאָ֖רֶץ בָּ֥א שָׁנָֽה

וַיָּ֥מָת  And  died 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
אֱלִישָׁ֖ע  Elisha 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֱלִישָׁע  
Sense: the great prophet who succeeded Elijah.
וַֽיִּקְבְּרֻ֑הוּ  and  they  buried  him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural, third person masculine singular
Root: קָבַר  
Sense: to bury.
וּגְדוּדֵ֥י  and  the  [raiding]  bands  from 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: גְּדוּד  
Sense: a band, troop, marauding band.
מוֹאָ֛ב  Moab 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מֹואָב 
Sense: a son of Lot by his eldest daughter.
יָבֹ֥אוּ  invaded 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
בָאָ֖רֶץ  the  land 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
בָּ֥א  in  the  spring 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
שָׁנָֽה  of  the  year 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: year.