Jehoash of Israel
Summary
The twelfth king of Israel who visited the dying prophet Elisha and received the arrow prophecy of partial victory over Syria. He struck the ground only three times instead of five or six, limiting his victories. He also defeated King Amaziah of Judah and broke down Jerusalem's wall.
- The record places Jehoash of Israel in Divided Kingdom.
- 5 moments stand in order on this page, each with its verse.
On this page
Start here
But the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times. Then you would have struck down Aram until you had put an end to it. But now you will strike down Aram only three times.”
2 Kings 13:19→- 5 key events in order
Jehoash of Israel
- Role
- 12th King of Israel
- Era
- Divided Kingdom
- Dates
- 798–782 BC
- Tribe
- Israel
- Father
- Jehoahaz of Israel
- Children
- Jeroboam II
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
- Visited dying Elisha2 Kings 13:14-19When Elisha had fallen sick with the illness from which he would die, Jehoash king of Israel came down to him and wept over him, saying, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!”
- Struck ground only three times2 Kings 13:18-19Then Elisha said, “Take the arrows!” So he took them, and Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground!” So he struck the ground three times and stopped.
- Three victories over Syria2 Kings 13:25Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz took back from Ben-hadad son of Hazael the cities that Hazael had taken in battle from his father Jehoahaz. Jehoash defeated Ben-hadad three times, and so recovered the cities of Israel.
- Elisha's bones revived a dead man2 Kings 13:20-21And Elisha died and was buried. Now the Moabite raiders used to come into the land every spring.
- Defeated Amaziah of Judah2 Kings 14:11-14But Amaziah would not listen, and Jehoash king of Israel advanced. He and King Amaziah of Judah faced each other at Beth-shemesh in Judah.
Biography
Jehoash (also called Joash) continued in the sins of Jeroboam but is remarkable for the poignant scene of his visit to the dying Elisha. He wept over the prophet, calling him "My father, my father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!" — the same words Elisha had spoken at Elijah's departure. Elisha told him to shoot an arrow out the window — the arrow of the LORD's deliverance from Syria.
Then he told Jehoash to strike the ground with the arrows. He struck only three times and stopped. Elisha was angry: had he struck five or six times he would have completely destroyed Syria, but as it was he would only defeat them three times. He indeed won three victories over Syria. When Amaziah of Judah challenged him, he responded with the parable of the thistle and the cedar, warning Amaziah not to press his luck.
Amaziah refused to listen, was defeated at Beth-shemesh, and Jehoash broke down 400 cubits of Jerusalem's wall and plundered the Temple.
But the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times. Then you would have struck down Aram until you had put an end to it. But now you will strike down Aram only three times.”
What they got right, and what they got wrong
Strengths
Military victories against Syria, realistic assessment of Amaziah's challenge, some genuine emotion at Elisha's deathbed
Weaknesses
Continued Jeroboam's idolatry, limited spiritual engagement, plundered the Temple of Judah
Lessons
Our level of spiritual intensity determines the extent of God's response within His purposes. Jehoash received what his limited enthusiasm called for — three victories instead of total deliverance. God honors our asking, but also limits it to the measure of our faith and passion.
Spiritual significance
Jehoash's incomplete striking of the arrows is a profound parable about the relationship between our passion and God's provision. God's power is unlimited; our limited enthusiasm limits what we receive. Half-hearted engagement with divine promises yields partial results.
Keep studying
On this page
Keep this page