Joash יוֹאָשׁ
King of Israel, son of Jehoahaz
Who is Joash in the Bible?
Joash, also known as Jehoash, was the king of Israel and son of Jehoahaz, reigning for sixteen years during a period of spiritual decline (2 Kings 13:10, 14:23). Like his predecessors, he did evil in the sight of the Lord, yet his reign was marked by significant military achievements (2 Kings 13:11). Before his death, the prophet Elisha prophesied that Joash would defeat the Arameans three times, a promise that came to pass as he successfully recaptured cities lost during his father's reign (2 Kings 13:14-19, 13:25). Joash also defeated Amaziah, king of Judah, in battle and damaged the walls of Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 25:17-24). His reign demonstrated the complex pattern of Israel's history, where military restoration and territorial recovery occurred even amid the nation's spiritual unfaithfulness to God.
Biography
Joash, also known as Jehoash, was the king of Israel and the son of Jehoahaz. He reigned for sixteen years (2Ki.13.10; 14.23) and, like his predecessors, did evil in the sight of the Lord (2Ki.13.11). During his reign, the prophet Elisha fell ill and died, but not before prophesying that Joash would defeat the Arameans three times (2Ki.13.14-19).
Joash successfully recaptured cities from the Arameans that had been lost during his father's reign (2Ki.13.25). He also engaged in a war with Amaziah, king of Judah, after Amaziah challenged him to battle (2Ki.14.8-14; 2Ch.25.17-24). Joash defeated Amaziah, captured him, and broke down a portion of the wall of Jerusalem.
The reigns of Joash and his son Jeroboam II were marked by military successes and the restoration of Israel's borders (2Ki.14.23-27). However, despite these victories, the biblical text emphasizes that Joash and the kings of Israel continued in the sins of Jeroboam I, leading to the eventual downfall of the northern kingdom (2Ki.14.24). The prophets Hosea and Amos prophesied during the time of Joash (Hos.1.1; Amo.1.1), warning of the consequences of Israel's disobedience.
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In Scripture
4 biblical books ; 1 with study content2 Kings 5 verses
- 2 Kings 13:9
"And Jehoahaz rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria. And his son Jehoash reigned in his place."
- 2 Kings 13:12
"As for the rest of the acts of Jehoash, along with all his accomplishments and his might, including his war against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?"
- 2 Kings 13:13
"And Jehoash rested with his fathers, and Jeroboam succeeded him on the throne. Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel."
- 2 Kings 13:14
"When Elisha had fallen sick with the illness from which he would die, Jehoash king of Israel came down to him and wept over him, saying, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!”"
- 2 Kings 13:25
"Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz took back from Ben-hadad son of Hazael the cities that Hazael had taken in battle from his father Jehoahaz. Jehoash defeated Ben-hadad three times, and so recovered the cities of Israel."
2 Chronicles 5 verses
- 2 Chronicles 25:17
"Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent word to the king of Israel Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu. “Come, let us meet face to face,” he said."
- 2 Chronicles 25:18
"But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle."
- 2 Chronicles 25:21
"So Jehoash king of Israel advanced, and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth-shemesh in Judah."
- 2 Chronicles 25:23
"There at Beth-shemesh, Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz. Then Jehoash brought him to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate—a section of four hundred cubits."
- 2 Chronicles 25:25
"Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel."
Hosea 1 verse
- Hosea 1:1
"This is the word of the LORD that came to Hosea son of Beeri in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and of Jeroboam son of Jehoash, king of Israel."
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Amos 1 verse
- Amos 1:1
"These are the words of Amos, who was among the sheepherders of Tekoa—what he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, in the days when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | יוֹאָשׁ |
| Named | Hebrew | יְהוֹאָשׁ |