Bible Strands
2 Kings 13:20
And Elisha died and was buried. Now the Moabite raiders used to come into the land every spring.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Elisha’s death and burial conclude his earthly ministry, immediately followed by a historical note on recurring Moabite incursions into the land. The narrative shifts from the prophet’s final interactions with the king to the ongoing geopolitical reality facing Israel.
The words — וַיָּמָת (va/yāmat) and וַיִּקְבְּרוּהוּ (va/yikkḇērūhû) state plainly that Elisha died and was buried, while וּגְדוּדֵי מוֹאָב (ûgᵉdûḏê mōʾāḇ) and יָבֹאוּ (yāḇōʾû) record that Moabite raiding bands came into the land. These terms mark the transition from prophetic authority to ongoing national vulnerability.
The thread — This pattern of Moabite raiders appears in Judges 3:12, 2 Kings 3:7, and 2 Kings 24:2, where Moabite forces repeatedly oppress Israel or Judah as a consequence of covenant unfaithfulness. The recurring motif underscores the land’s instability following the loss of prophetic intercession.
Why it lands — The text records Elisha’s death and the return of Moabite raids without elaboration, demanding recognition that national security depended on covenant obedience rather than human or prophetic longevity. It confronts the reader with the abrupt shift from divine provision to recurring threat when leadership ends.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 24:2 And the LORD sent Chaldean, Aramean, Moabite, and Ammonite raiders against Jehoiakim in order to destroy Judah, according to the word that the LORD had spoken through His servants the prophets.
- 2 Kings 3:7 And he sent a message to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?” “I will go,” replied Jehoshaphat. “I am as you are, my people are your people, and my horses are your horses.”
- Judges 3:12 Once again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD. So He gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.
- Judges 6:3 Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and other people of the east would come up and invade them,
- 2 Kings 3:5 But after the death of Ahab, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
- 2 Kings 3:24 But when the Moabites came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and attacked them, and they fled before them. So the Israelites invaded their land and struck down the Moabites.
- 2 Kings 5:2 At this time the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken a young girl from the land of Israel, and she was serving Naaman’s wife.
- 2 Kings 6:23 So the king prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. And the Aramean raiders did not come into the land of Israel again.
- 2 Chronicles 24:16 And Jehoiada was buried with the kings in the City of David, because he had done what was good in Israel for God and His temple.
- Acts 8:2 God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.