Jehoahaz, Son of Jehu, King of Israel: 2 Kings 13:1-9
2 Kings 13:1‑9 • 2 min. read • grade level: 10
The Lord fulfilled His promise made to Jehu: “Thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel” (2 Kings 10:3030And the Lord said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel. (2 Kings 10:30)). Jehoahaz succeeded his father. Second Chronicles, which gives the history of the family of David, makes no mention of Jehoahaz because there were no relationships between this king and Judah. When such relationships did not exist, this book passes over those kings in silence. Jehoahaz did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam any more than did his father, and even the Asherah, idol of the Phoenician goddess of love, whose impure worship had been inaugurated by Ahab at Samaria (1 Kings 16:3333And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. (1 Kings 16:33)) remained in Israel’s capital. Also God’s rod, in the persons of Hazael and Ben-Hadad his son, continued to beat down the ten tribes.
Nevertheless, what mercy in the heart of God! It is sufficient that Jehoahaz, without his heart being changed in any way, besought the Lord, for Him to answer, moved by the misery and oppression of Israel. “And Jehoahaz besought Jehovah, and Jehovah hearkened to him; for He saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them” (2 Kings 13:44And Jehoahaz besought the Lord, and the Lord hearkened unto him: for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them. (2 Kings 13:4)). He takes account of the slightest movement of an unhappy soul toward Himself. God is very easily found. Who henceforth might be able to say that he had sought Him in vain, when the most ungodly man, should he but for an instant turn toward Him, would receive an answer? “And Jehovah gave Israel a savior, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians; and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents as before” (2 Kings 13:55(And the Lord gave Israel a saviour, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians: and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents, as beforetime. (2 Kings 13:5)). This savior appeared, as we shall see, in the person of Joash, the son and successor of Jehoahaz. At last the people might enjoy a little quiet. Had they attributed this favor to God, this blessing would have continued, but “they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam,” but “walked therein” (2 Kings 13:66Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked therein: and there remained the grove also in Samaria.) (2 Kings 13:6)). The remark is constantly made that the world gladly enjoys God’s favors without being the least bit careful to serve him.