When
Elisha was in his last illness, King Jehoash of Israel visited him
and wept over him. "My father! My father! The chariots and
charioteers of Israel!" he cried.
Elisha
told him, "Get a bow and some arrows." And the king did
as he ws told.
Then
Elisha told the king of Israel to put his hand
on the bow, and
Elisha laid his own hands on the king's hands. Then he commanded,
"Open that eastern window," and he opened it. Then he
said, "Shoot!" So he did.
Then Elisha
proclaimed, "This is the Lord's arrow, full of victory over
Aram, for you will completely conquer the Arameans at Aphek. Now
pick up the other arrows and strike them on the ground." So
the king picked them up and struck the ground three times. But the
man of God was angry with him. "You should have struck the
ground five or six times!" he exclaimed. "Then you would
have beaten Aram until they were entirely destroyed. Now you will
be victorious only three times."