Jehoahaz's Death:

Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, reigned as king over Israel in Samaria for seventeen years. His reign is chronicled in 2 Kings 13:1-9. Jehoahaz's rule was marked by a continuation of the sins of Jeroboam, which led Israel into idolatry and provoked the LORD's anger. As a result, the LORD allowed Hazael, king of Aram, and his son Ben-Hadad to oppress Israel throughout Jehoahaz's reign.

Despite his transgressions, Jehoahaz sought the LORD's favor, and the LORD listened to him, providing a deliverer for Israel. This deliverance allowed the Israelites to escape the oppression of the Arameans and live in their homes as before. However, the people did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, and the Asherah pole remained in Samaria.

Jehoahaz's death is briefly noted in 2 Kings 13:9 : "And Jehoahaz rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria. And his son Jehoash reigned in his place." His death marked the end of a tumultuous period for Israel, characterized by both divine judgment and mercy.

Jehoash's Reign:

Jehoash, also known as Joash, succeeded his father Jehoahaz as king of Israel. His reign is detailed in 2 Kings 13:10-25. Jehoash ruled for sixteen years, continuing the practices of Jeroboam and failing to depart from the sins that led Israel astray. Despite this, his reign was significant for several reasons.

One of the notable events during Jehoash's reign was his interaction with the prophet Elisha. As Elisha lay on his deathbed, Jehoash visited him, expressing concern for the future of Israel. Elisha instructed Jehoash to shoot an arrow out of the window, symbolizing the LORD's deliverance from Aram. Elisha then commanded Jehoash to strike the ground with arrows, which he did three times. Elisha was displeased, as Jehoash's limited action meant that Israel would only defeat Aram three times instead of achieving complete victory.

Jehoash's military campaigns against Aram were successful to an extent. As recorded in 2 Kings 13:25 : "Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz recaptured from Ben-Hadad son of Hazael the cities that had been taken in battle from his father Jehoahaz. Three times Jehoash defeated him, and so he recovered the cities of Israel." This partial restoration of Israel's territory was a fulfillment of Elisha's prophecy and a testament to the LORD's continued involvement with His people, despite their persistent disobedience.

Jehoash's reign is also noted for his conflict with Amaziah, king of Judah. This confrontation is detailed in 2 Kings 14, where Jehoash defeated Amaziah at Beth Shemesh and subsequently broke down the wall of Jerusalem, seizing treasures and hostages. This victory further solidified Jehoash's position, though it did not lead to a lasting peace between the two kingdoms.

Jehoash's reign, like that of his father, was a mixture of military success and spiritual failure. His actions and the events of his reign are a reflection of the broader narrative of Israel's kings, who often struggled to lead the nation in faithfulness to the LORD.