Jehoash of Israel

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 BC -786 BC, while E. R. Thiele offers the dates 798 BC-782 BC.

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).