Jehoahaz (King of Israel)

Technical Profile

• Name Meaning: From Hebrew Yehô’āḥāz, “Yahweh has grasped/held” (a theophoric name invoking Israel’s God).
• Period/Era: Divided Kingdom (9th century BC, Northern Kingdom).
• Main References: 2 Kings 13:1–9; brief contextual overlap in 2 Kings 10:32–33.
• Key Connections: Son of Jehu’s dynasty (son of Jehoahaz/Jehoash’s father); ruled after Jehu’s line through Jehoash; interacted indirectly with the prophetic tradition associated with Elisha’s era (2 Kings 13).

Who was Jehoahaz (King of Israel)?

Jehoahaz was king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, reigning in Samaria for seventeen years.
He was the son of Jehu and continued the royal line established after Jehu’s coup.
His reign is presented within the ongoing evaluation of Israel’s kings in relation to covenant loyalty.
He ruled during sustained pressure from Aram (Syria), especially under Hazael and Ben-hadad.

Key Events & Achievements

• Aramean oppression: Israel’s military strength was severely reduced under Aramean dominance during his reign (2 Kings 13:3, 7).
• Supplication for relief: He sought the LORD’s favor, and Israel received a deliverer so they could escape Aramean control for a time (2 Kings 13:4–5).
• Dynastic succession: After his death, his son Jehoash (Joash) became king in Samaria (2 Kings 13:9–10).

Life Lesson & Legacy

Jehoahaz’s reign illustrates how Israel’s political fortunes in the Divided Kingdom are narrated alongside covenantal assessment and prophetic-era conflict.

Key Verse

"Then Jehoahaz sought the LORD’s favor, and the LORD listened to him, for he saw how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel." — 2 Kings 13:4, NIV