Justin Houtz

2 Kings 13, Luke 22

DateVersionReading Plan
November 22, 2025ESV (2016)OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027

2 Kings 13

Observation & Interpretation

2 Kings 13:5 – The LORD gave Israel a savior so that they escaped from the hand of the Syrians.

  • The deliverer might have been Adad-nirari III, king of Assyria, who late in the reign of Jehoahaz caused more and more trouble for Syria, leaving her little time to bother Israel. Some commentators suggest Elisha was the deliverer. Others say…either Jehoash (v. 25) or Jeroboam II (14:26, 27). Verse 23 explains why God answered Jehoahaz’s prayer: it was because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (BBC)

2 Kings 13:9 – Jehoahaz’s son, Joash, reigned over Israel after his father.

  • The same name as Joash (or Jehoash), king of Judah.

2 Kings 13:14 – Joash, king of Israel, referred to Elisha as “father”.

  • He meant that men of Elisha’s caliber were the truest and best defense of the people of Israel. Elisha had used the same words to lament the passing of Elijah (2 Kings 2:12). (BBC)

2 Kings 13:20-21 – A man being buried was thrown into the grave of Elisha and his body revived when he touched the bones of Elisha.

  • In the spring of each year, marauding bands of Moabites invaded the land. One day as some men of Israel were taking the corpse to be buried, they saw one of these marauding bands approaching. Hurriedly, they opened the tomb of Elisha and threw the corpse in. As soon as the man…touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet. (BBC)

Luke 22

Observation & Interpretation

Luke 22:6 – Judas, the chief priests and elders sought an opportunity to betray Jesus in the absence of a crowd.

  • [Judas] had carefully worked out a plan by which he could betray Jesus into their hands without causing a riot. (BBC)

Luke 22:36 – Jesus told the twelve that the one who has no sword was to sell his cloak to buy one.

  • There are multiple possible interpretations of what Jesus meant by the “sword”
    • (Listed by BBC)
      • Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God
      • Protection from government
      • Defense against human enemies
      • Defense against wild animals only
    • The call for the sword is figurative (CSB Notes)

Luke 22:65 – The mocking soldiers said many things against Jesus, blaspheming Him.

  • Blasphemy is typically in reference to God.
  • blaspheme /blasˈfiːm/ – verb speak irreverently about God or sacred things. (COED)

Luke 22:7-23 – Remembering is not merely a mental recollection of Christ’s love for us. There is a kind of remembering that changes our lives, that makes us different people. There is a kind of remembering that summons us afresh to the truth that our whole lives depend upon the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (ESVEC – Response)

Luke 22:63-65 – The problem of evil…is that it cannot be kept under control. Once we agree to inflict evil on anyone, we open ourselves to mistreating everyone. (ESVEC – Response)

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