Jehoahaz of Israel
Summary
The eleventh king of Israel, oppressed by Syria throughout his reign until Israel's army was reduced to almost nothing. In his distress he sought the LORD, who gave Israel a deliverer, a sign that God answered even this wayward king.
- The record places Jehoahaz of Israel in Divided Kingdom.
- 1 verse name Jehoahaz of Israel, in 1 book.
- 4 moments stand in order on this page, each with its verse.
On this page
Start here
Then Jehoahaz sought the favor of the LORD, and the LORD listened to him because He saw the oppression that the king of Aram had inflicted on Israel.
2 Kings 13:4→- 4 key events in order
- 1 verse name Jehoahaz of Israel, across 1 book
In Scripture
- Verses
- 1
- Books
- 1
Jehoahaz of Israel
- Role
- 11th King of Israel
- Era
- Divided Kingdom
- Dates
- 814–798 BC
- Tribe
- Israel
- Father
- Jehu
- Children
- Jehoash of Israel
The life in order
from the events the row records, with the first and last verse that names the person among the passages this page stands on
1What the record holds, in its own order
- Syrian oppression2 Kings 13:3So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He delivered them continually into the hands of Hazael king of Aram and his son Ben-hadad.
- Army reduced to almost nothing2 Kings 13:7Jehoahaz had no army left, except fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers, because the king of Aram had destroyed them and made them like the dust at threshing.
- Sought the LORD2 Kings 13:4Then Jehoahaz sought the favor of the LORD, and the LORD listened to him because He saw the oppression that the king of Aram had inflicted on Israel.
- God provided a deliverer2 Kings 13:5So the LORD gave Israel a deliverer, and they escaped the power of the Arameans. Then the people of Israel lived in their own homes as they had before.
Biography
Jehoahaz son of Jehu continued in the sins of Jeroboam's golden calves and faced severe divine judgment through the Aramean (Syrian) kings Hazael and his son Ben-hadad. Syria's oppression reduced Israel's military to fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand infantry. Yet in this extremity, Jehoahaz sought the LORD — and God listened, because he saw how the king of Syria was oppressing Israel.
God gave Israel a deliverer who brought them out from under Syrian domination. However, Israel did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, and the Asherah pole remained in Samaria. His reign is a testimony to the strange mercy of God toward a people who cry out in distress — even when they have no intention of sustained repentance.
Then Jehoahaz sought the favor of the LORD, and the LORD listened to him because He saw the oppression that the king of Aram had inflicted on Israel.
What they got right, and what they got wrong
Strengths
Sought God in distress, received deliverance through prayer
Weaknesses
Continued Jeroboam's idolatry, only sought God out of desperation, did not sustain any spiritual reform
Lessons
Even imperfect, distress-driven prayer can move God. Jehoahaz's seeking of God was not the result of deep spiritual renewal but of military desperation — yet God heard and delivered. God's mercy is not limited to those with perfect motives; he responds to real need.
Spiritual significance
God responds to genuine cries of distress even when the supplicant's record is poor. Jehoahaz had done evil, yet God responded to his prayer because of compassion on the suffering people. This foreshadows a God who welcomes even desperate and incomplete prayers from those who have strayed far.
Jehoahaz of Israel in Scripture
Open a book to read its mentions here. Text: Berean Standard Bible. Names repeat in Scripture, so some of these verses may speak of another person called Jehoahaz of Israel.
Old Testament1 book · 1 mention
Keep studying
On this page
Keep this page