Jehoash of Israel

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Jehoash (יהואש המלך), was the king of the ancient Kingdom of Israel and the son of Jehoahaz, (2 Kings 14:1; compare 12:1; 13:10). When he ascended the throne, the Kingdom of Israel was suffering from the predations of the Arameans; Hazael "was cutting Israel short."

William F. Albright has dated his reign to 801 BCE -786 BCE, while E. R. Thiele offers the dates 798 BCE-782 BCE.

Later in his reign, he was involved in war with Amaziah, the king of Judah, whom he utterly defeated at Beth-shemesh, on the borders of Dan and Philistia, and advancing on Jerusalem, broke down a portion of the wall, and carried away the treasures of the Temple and the palace (2 Kings 13:12;14:8-14; 2 Chronicles 25:14-24). He soon after died, and was buried in Samaria (2 Kings 13:13).

He tolerated the worship of the golden calves, yet seems to have manifested a character of sincere devotion to the worship of God. He held the prophet Elisha in honor, and wept by his bedside while he was dying, addressing him in the words Elisha himself had used when Elijah was carried up into heaven: "O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof". In return, Elisha predicted he would defeat Hazael three times (2 Kings 13:14-20).

House of Jehoshaphat
Preceded by: Jehoahaz	King of Israel Albright: 801 BC – 786 BC Thiele: 798 BC – 782 BC Galil: 805 BC – 790 BC	Succeeded by: Jeroboam II