מלכים ב, פרק י״ג, פסוק כ״ב

The reign of Jehoahaz was defined by severe national hardship, yet this dark period set the stage for future salvation and the fulfillment of prophecy. The narrative steps back to explain how the earlier promises of the prophet Elisha actually came to pass [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל]. While Hazael, the king of Aram, heavily oppressed the Israelites, this period of subjugation was strictly limited to the lifetime of Jehoahaz.

The moment Jehoahaz died, the heavy pressure on the nation lifted. God chose not to destroy the people [רלב״ג], extending His mercy to them because of the merit of their ancestors [אברבנאל]. True relief materialized after the death of Hazael, when God brought salvation through Joash. Stepping up to defend the nation, Joash fought against Aram and secured three distinct victories, successfully reclaiming the Israelite cities that had previously been captured.

These military triumphs perfectly aligned with the exact number of times Joash had struck the ground with arrows, just as Elisha had instructed him to do right before the prophet passed away. This precise sequence of events brought the prophetic vision full circle [רלב״ג, אברבנאל].