Jehoahaz (2 Kings 10:30; 2 Kings 10:35; 2 Kings 13:1–2; 2 Kings 13:3; 2 Kings 13:4–5; 2 Kings 13:6–7; 2 Kings 13:8–9; 2 Kings 13:22–23; 2 Kings 13:24–25; 2 Kings 14:8; 2 Chronicles 25:17)

Son of Jehu, king of Israel in Samaria

The son of Jehu, who reigned seventeen years over Israel in Samaria, did evil and followed the sins of Jeroboam, saw Israel delivered to Hazael of Syria, besought the LORD and was heard, was left with a remnant of an army, and was succeeded by his son.

“And Jehu slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead” (2 Kings 10:35). The LORD had told Jehu that “thy sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel” (2 Kings 10:30). Jehoahaz “began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years. And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom” (2 Kings 13:1-2).

“The anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, continually” (2 Kings 13:3). In that affliction “Jehoahaz besought Jehovah, and Jehovah hearkened unto him; for he saw the oppression of Israel” (2 Kings 13:4), and the LORD gave Israel a savior, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians (2 Kings 13:5). Yet Israel “departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam,” (2 Kings 13:6) and “there remained the Asherah also in Samaria” (2 Kings 13:6). Of Jehoahaz's people the king of Syria left him only “fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen” (2 Kings 13:7).

“Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. But Jehovah was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them” (2 Kings 13:22-23). “Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his stead” (2 Kings 13:9). His son, called both Joash and Jehoash, later took again out of the hand of Ben-hadad the cities taken from Jehoahaz by war (2 Kings 13:25), and Jehoahaz is named afterward as the father of that king (2 Kings 14:8; 2 Chronicles 25:17). Scripture records no words of Jehoahaz himself.

Strengths

• Besought the LORD

Weaknesses

• Followed the sins of Jeroboam
• Did evil in the sight of the LORD

Themes

• Son of Jehu
• Sins of Jeroboam
• Oppression by Syria
• Prayer heard
• The LORD's covenant mercy

Succeeds Jehu (2 Kings 10:30–35)

The LORD promises Jehu that his sons to the fourth generation will sit on Israel's throne; Jehu is buried in Samaria and Jehoahaz his son reigns.

Reigns in Samaria and does evil (2 Kings 13:1–2)

Jehoahaz reigns seventeen years over Israel in Samaria, does evil in the sight of the LORD, and departs not from the sins of Jeroboam.

Reigns in Samaria and does evil

“In the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years” (2 Kings 13:1).

“And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom” (2 Kings 13:2).

Delivered into the hand of Hazael (2 Kings 13:3)

The LORD's anger is kindled against Israel, and he delivers them continually into the hand of Hazael and of Ben-hadad his son.

Jehoahaz besought the LORD (2 Kings 13:4–5)

Jehoahaz besought the LORD, who hearkened because he saw the oppression of Israel, and gave Israel a savior so that they went out from under the Syrians.

Jehoahaz besought the LORD

“And Jehoahaz besought Jehovah, and Jehovah hearkened unto him; for he saw the oppression of Israel, how that the king of Syria oppressed them” (2 Kings 13:4).

“And Jehovah gave Israel a saviour, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians; and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents as beforetime” (2 Kings 13:5). The text does not name the savior.

The Asherah remains and the army is reduced (2 Kings 13:6–7)

Israel does not depart from the sins of Jeroboam's house, the Asherah remains in Samaria, and Syria leaves Jehoahaz only fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen.

The Asherah remains and the army is reduced

“Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, wherewith he made Israel to sin, but walked therein: and there remained the Asherah also in Samaria” (2 Kings 13:6).

“For he left not to Jehoahaz of the people save fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria destroyed them, and made them like the dust in threshing” (2 Kings 13:7).

Hazael oppresses all his days; the LORD is gracious (2 Kings 13:22–23)

Hazael oppresses Israel all the days of Jehoahaz, but the LORD is gracious and has compassion because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Hazael oppresses all his days; the LORD is gracious

“And Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz” (2 Kings 13:22).

“But Jehovah was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet” (2 Kings 13:23).

Death and the cities recovered (2 Kings 13:8–9; 2 Kings 13:24–25)

Jehoahaz sleeps with his fathers and is buried in Samaria; Joash his son reigns, and after Hazael dies Jehoash takes again out of the hand of Ben-hadad the cities taken from Jehoahaz by war.

Jehu (2 Kings 10:35; 2 Kings 13:1)

His father, who was buried in Samaria; Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead.

Jehoash (2 Kings 13:9; 2 Kings 13:25)

His son, called both Joash and Jehoash, who reigned in his stead and took again the cities taken from Jehoahaz by war.

Hazael (2 Kings 13:3; 2 Kings 13:22)

The king of Syria into whose hand Israel was delivered, and who oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.

Ben-hadad (2 Kings 13:3; 2 Kings 13:25)

The son of Hazael, into whose hand Israel was also delivered, and who held cities taken from Jehoahaz.

Jeroboam the son of Nebat (2 Kings 13:2; 2 Kings 13:6)

Jehoahaz followed the sins of Jeroboam, wherewith he made Israel to sin.

The LORD (2 Kings 13:3–5; 2 Kings 13:23)

Was angry with Israel, hearkened to Jehoahaz, and was gracious because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Major sections

• 2 Kings 10:30–36
• 2 Kings 13:1–9
• 2 Kings 13:22–25

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