Jehoash of Israel (2 Kings 13:9–11; 2 Kings 13:12–13; 2 Kings 13:14; 2 Kings 13:15–19; 2 Kings 13:24–25; 2 Kings 14:8–10; 2 Kings 14:11–14; 2 Kings 14:15–16; 2 Chronicles 25:17–20; 2 Chronicles 25:21–24; 2 Chronicles 25:25; Hosea 1:1; Amos 1:1)

King of Israel, son of Jehoahaz, also called Joash

The son of Jehoahaz, who reigned over Israel in Samaria sixteen years, wept over the dying Elisha, struck the ground thrice with the arrows, recovered the cities of Israel from Ben-hadad, took Amaziah of Judah at Beth-shemesh, and was succeeded by his son Jeroboam.

Kings names him both Jehoash and Joash. When his father died, “Joash his son reigned in his stead” (2 Kings 13:9), and “Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz” (2 Kings 13:10) began to reign over Israel in Samaria and reigned sixteen years (2 Kings 13:10). The writer judges him in one verse: “he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah; he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin; but he walked therein” (2 Kings 13:11).

When Elisha was sick of the sickness of which he died, “Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over him, and said, My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof!” (2 Kings 13:14). Elisha had him take bow and arrows, shoot eastward, and strike the ground; “he smote thrice, and stayed. And the man of God was wroth with him” (2 Kings 13:18-19). After Hazael died, he took back from Ben-hadad the cities lost in his father's days: “Three times did Joash smite him, and recovered the cities of Israel” (2 Kings 13:25).

Amaziah of Judah sent to him, “Come, let us look one another in the face” (2 Kings 14:8). Jehoash answered with the saying of the thistle and the cedar and told him to abide at home; Amaziah would not hear, and at Beth-shemesh Judah was put to the worse. Jehoash took Amaziah, broke down part of the wall of Jerusalem, took the gold, silver, vessels and hostages, and returned to Samaria (2 Kings 14:9-14). “And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead” (2 Kings 14:16).

Weaknesses

• Did evil in the sight of the LORD
• Walked in the sins of Jeroboam
• Struck the ground only thrice

Themes

• Evil in the LORD's sight
• The prophet's dying word
• Victory limited
• Thistle and cedar
• War with Judah

Begins to reign in Samaria (2 Kings 13:9–11)

Jehoash, son of Jehoahaz, begins to reign over Israel in Samaria, reigns sixteen years, and walks in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

Weeps over the dying Elisha (2 Kings 13:14)

Elisha is sick of the sickness of which he died; Joash the king of Israel comes down to him, weeps over him, and cries out.

Weeps over the dying Elisha

“Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died: and Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over him, and said, My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof!” (2 Kings 13:14).

The text gives his words and his weeping and states no further motive.

The arrows of victory (2 Kings 13:15–19)

At Elisha's word he takes bow and arrows and shoots eastward, then strikes the ground thrice and stays, and the man of God is wroth.

The arrows of victory

“And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows; and he took unto him bow and arrows” (2 Kings 13:15). Elisha bade him put his hand upon the bow and laid his hands upon the king's hands, and said, “Open the window eastward; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot; and he shot” (2 Kings 13:17).

“Jehovah’s arrow of victory, even the arrow of victory over Syria; for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them” (2 Kings 13:17), Elisha said. Then he bade the king take the arrows and smite upon the ground, “and he smote thrice, and stayed” (2 Kings 13:18).

“And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times: then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it, whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice” (2 Kings 13:19).

Recovers the cities from Ben-hadad (2 Kings 13:24–25)

After Hazael dies and Ben-hadad his son reigns, Jehoash takes again the cities that had been taken from his father Jehoahaz, smiting Ben-hadad three times.

Answers Amaziah with the thistle and the cedar (2 Kings 14:8–11; 2 Chronicles 25:17–20)

Amaziah of Judah sends to him to look one another in the face; Jehoash answers with a saying of a thistle and a cedar and bids him abide at home, but Amaziah would not hear.

Answers Amaziah with the thistle and the cedar

“Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face” (2 Kings 14:8). Jehoash sent back: “The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trod down the thistle” (2 Kings 14:9).

“Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thy heart hath lifted thee up: glory thereof, and abide at home; for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?” (2 Kings 14:10). Chronicles gives the same exchange under the name Joash (2 Chronicles 25:17-19).

“But Amaziah would not hear” (2 Kings 14:11). Chronicles adds, “for it was of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they had sought after the gods of Edom” (2 Chronicles 25:20).

Takes Amaziah at Beth-shemesh (2 Kings 14:11–14; 2 Chronicles 25:21–24)

Jehoash goes up and meets Amaziah at Beth-shemesh, where Judah is put to the worse; he takes Amaziah, breaks down the wall of Jerusalem, takes the treasures and hostages, and returns to Samaria.

Takes Amaziah at Beth-shemesh

“So Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth-shemesh, which belongeth to Judah. And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to his tent” (2 Kings 14:11-12).

“And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah … at Beth-shemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits” (2 Kings 14:13).

“And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of Jehovah, and in the treasures of the king’s house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria” (2 Kings 14:14).

Sleeps with his fathers (2 Kings 13:12–13; 2 Kings 14:15–17; 2 Chronicles 25:25)

The rest of his acts, his might, and how he fought with Amaziah are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel; he is buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel and Jeroboam his son reigns.

Jehoahaz (2 Kings 13:9–10; 2 Kings 13:25)

His father, after whom he reigned; the cities Jehoash recovered had been taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father.

Jeroboam son of Joash (2 Kings 13:13; 2 Kings 14:16; 2 Kings 14:23)

His son, who sat upon his throne and is called Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel.

Elisha (2 Kings 13:14–19)

The sick man of God whom he wept over, who gave him the arrow of victory and was wroth that he struck only thrice.

Amaziah, king of Judah (2 Kings 14:8–14; 2 Chronicles 25:17–24)

Sent to him to look one another in the face; Jehoash took him at Beth-shemesh and broke down the wall of Jerusalem.

Ben-hadad, son of Hazael (2 Kings 13:24–25)

Jehoash took again out of his hand the cities taken from Jehoahaz, smiting him three times.

Jeroboam the son of Nebat (2 Kings 13:11)

Jehoash departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam, wherewith he made Israel to sin, but walked therein.

Major sections

• 2 Kings 13:9–25
• 2 Kings 14:8–16
• 2 Chronicles 25:17–25

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