Jehoash of Israel
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Jehoash ("Jehovah-given"), was king of Israel and the son of Jehoahaz, (2 Kings 14:1; compare 12:1; 13:10). Albright has dated his reign to 801 - 786 BC, while Thiele offers the dates 798 - 782 BC. When he ascended the throne, Israel was suffering from the predations of the Arameans; Hazael "was cutting Israel short."
Later in his reign, he was involved in war with Amaziah, the king of Judah, whom he utterly defeated at Beth-shemesh, on the borders of Dan and Philistia, and advancing on Jerusalem, broke down a portion of the wall, and carried away the treasures of the temple and the palace (2 Kings 13:12;14:8-14; 2 Chronicles 25:14-24). He soon after died, and was buried in Samaria (2 Kings 13:13).
He tolerated the worship of the golden calves, yet seems to have manifested a character of sincere devotion to the worship of Yahweh. He held the prophet Elisha in honor, and wept by his bedside while he was dying, addressing him in the words Elisha himself had used when Elijah was carried up into heaven: "O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof". In return, Elisha predicted he would defeat Hazael three times (2 Kings 13:14-20).
| Preceded by: Jehoahaz | King of Israel | Succeeded by: Jeroboam II |