Jehoahaz of Israel

Who is Jehoahaz of Israel?

Jehoahaz of Israel was king of Israel and the son of Jehu. William F. Albright has dated his reign to 815 BC – 801 BC, while E. R. Thiele offers the dates 814 BC – 798 BC. A stamp seal dated to the end of the 7th century BC has been found with the inscription "[belonging] to Jehoahaz, son of the king".

He reigned seventeen years. His account in 2 Kings states that he was initially faithful to Yahweh, but his people followed the religious practices of the house of Jeroboam, which included the worship of a cultic pole of Asherah in Samaria. The kings of the Arameans, Hazael and Ben-hadad, prevailed over him, leaving him an army of 50 horsemen, 10 chariots and 10,000 foot soldiers. Jehoahaz besought the Lord for a deliverer to relieve Israel from Aramean oppression. Just when that savior appeared or who he was is not determined. But in II Kings 13. 25, and 14. 27, Jehoahaz's son Joash and his grandson Jeroboam II. would seem to fulfil the requirements. It is also true that Adad-nirari III, King of Assyria, made campaigns into the west, and on one of the incursions captured and sacked the city of Damascus, thus removing the worst enemy of Israel's prosperity.