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Jehoahaz and Jehoash of Israel
This passage gives a brief record of two kings of Israel, Jehoahaz and Jehoash. It shows how each reign is measured, what is said about their actions before Yahweh, and how each king was followed by his son.
Understanding the passage
Understanding this record
The verses are written as reign records for the northern kingdom of Israel in Samaria. Each king is introduced by the year of a Judean king, the length of his reign, an assessment of his conduct, and a note about succession, with one short report about Syria’s oppression in Jehoahaz’s days.
2 Kings 13:1–13; 2 Kings 14:15–16Main takeaway
These reign records show that political succession continued in Israel, but the passage repeatedly measures each king by whether he turned away from the sins already established in the kingdom.
Explore the record
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Jehoahaz begins to reignJehoahaz son of Jehu begins reigning in Samaria and rules for seventeen years. The passage quickly gives the writer’s verdict: he does evil in Yahweh’s sight and follows the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat.
Explanation
Jehoahaz son of Jehu begins reigning in Samaria and rules for seventeen years. The passage quickly gives the writer’s verdict: he does evil in Yahweh’s sight and follows the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat. The wording stresses continuity, because Jehoahaz does not depart from that pattern.
02Oppression, prayer, and limited reliefBecause of this evil, Yahweh’s anger burns against Israel, and Syria oppresses them through Hazael and Benhadad.
Explanation
Because of this evil, Yahweh’s anger burns against Israel, and Syria oppresses them through Hazael and Benhadad. Yet Jehoahaz begs Yahweh, and Yahweh listens because he sees Israel’s oppression. Israel receives a saviour and some relief, but the people still do not leave Jeroboam’s sins, and the Asherah remains in Samaria.
03A weakened kingdom and Jehoahaz’s deathThe damage to Israel is described in military terms. Jehoahaz is left with only fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen, because the king of Syria has devastated them.
Explanation
The damage to Israel is described in military terms. Jehoahaz is left with only fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen, because the king of Syria has devastated them. After a note that the rest of his acts are recorded elsewhere, Jehoahaz dies, is buried in Samaria, and his son Joash reigns in his place.
04Jehoash follows the same patternJehoash, also called Joash in this passage, reigns in Samaria for sixteen years. The judgement is the same as for Jehoahaz: he does evil in Yahweh’s sight and continues in Jeroboam’s sins.
Explanation
Jehoash, also called Joash in this passage, reigns in Samaria for sixteen years. The judgement is the same as for Jehoahaz: he does evil in Yahweh’s sight and continues in Jeroboam’s sins. The record then points to his acts and conflict with Amaziah in another source, before stating his burial in Samaria and Jeroboam’s succession.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What changes and what stays the same between Jehoahaz and Jehoash in these records?
Notice the different reign lengths and successions, but also the repeated verdict that both kings continued in the sins of Jeroboam.
02How does the passage describe Yahweh’s response when Jehoahaz begged for help?
Read carefully for both parts: Yahweh listened because he saw the oppression, and he gave Israel a saviour so they had relief from Syria.
03Why is verse 7 important for understanding Jehoahaz’s reign?
It gives concrete numbers showing how severely Syria had weakened Israel’s army.
Read the Bible passages
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
2 Kings 13:1–13
1In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria for seventeen years.
2He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin. He didn’t depart from it.
3Yahweh’s anger burned 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.
4Jehoahaz begged Yahweh, and Yahweh listened to him; for he saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Syria oppressed them.
5(Yahweh gave Israel a savior, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians; and the children of Israel lived in their tents as before.
6Nevertheless they didn’t depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, with which he made Israel to sin, but walked in them; and the Asherah also remained in Samaria.)
7For he didn’t leave to Jehoahaz of the people any more than fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria destroyed them and made them like the dust in threshing.
8Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and his might, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
9Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria; and Joash his son reigned in his place.
10In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz began to reign over Israel in Samaria for sixteen years.
11He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight. He didn’t depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin; but he walked in them.
12Now the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
13Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat on his throne. Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
2 Kings 14:15–16
15Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
16Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his place.