Jehoahaz (of Israel)
Ask about Jehoahaz (of Israel)
Jehoahaz was the son of Jehu and reigned seventeen years over Israel from Samaria. He kept the golden-calf worship of Jeroboam, and during his reign the LORD gave Israel into the hand of Hazael king of Syria and his son Ben-hadad, who reduced Israel's army to fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen. Yet when Jehoahaz 'besought the LORD,' God heard him and gave Israel 'a saviour' who brought relief from the Syrians. He was buried in Samaria and succeeded by his son Jehoash.
Biography
- Occupation
- King of Israel
- Father
- Jehu (King)
- Children
- Jehoash (of Israel)
- Era
- Divided Kingdom
- Nationality
- Israelite
Family
Did You Know?
Scripture does not name the 'savior' God sent to Israel in his day (2 Kings 13:5); suggestions include his son Jehoash, his grandson Jeroboam II, or an Assyrian king whose campaigns weakened Damascus.
Though he did evil, his prayer was heard: 'the LORD hearkened unto him: for he saw the oppression of Israel' (2 Kings 13:4).
He was the first of the four generations of Jehu's descendants promised the throne of Israel in 2 Kings 10:30.
Key Chapters
Key Passages
Jehoahaz Begins to Reign
2 Kings 13:1-3
Israel's continued idolatry brings years of oppression under Syria.
1n 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.
Jehoahaz Besought the LORD
2 Kings 13:4-6
Even an unfaithful king's prayer is heard, a striking picture of God's compassion toward His suffering people.
4nd Jehoahaz besought the LORD, and the LORD hearkened unto him: for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them.
An Army Like Dust
2 Kings 13:7-9
Israel's military strength is reduced to almost nothing, a measure of how far the nation had fallen.
7either did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like the dust by threshing.