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Bible Encyclopedias
Jehoahaz
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (Heb. Yehoachaz', יְהוֹאָהָז, Jehovah is his holder, i.e. sustainer; Sept. Ι᾿ωαχαζ; written also in the contracted form יוֹאָחָז, Yodchaz', 2 Kings 14:1; 2 Chronicles 34:8; 2 Chronicles 26:2; 2 Chronicles 26:4; Sept. Ι᾿ωάχαζ; A.V. ‘ Jehoahaz"), the name of thiee kings. (See JOAHAZ).
1. One of the names of the youngest son of Jehoram of Judah (2 Chronicles 21:17, Sept. Ο᾿χοζίας ,), and father of Josiah (2 Chronicles 25:23, Sept. Ι᾿ωάχαζ); usually called AHAZIAH (See AHAZIAH) (q.v.).
2. The son and successor of Jehu, the twelfth separate king of Israel (2 Kings 10:35). He reigned seventeen years, B.C. 855-838 (Josephus Ι᾿ώαζος , Ant. 9:8, 5). As he followed the evil courses of the house of Jeroboam, the Syrians, under Hazael and Benhdadad, were suffered to prevail over him; so that at length he had only left, of all his forces, fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and 10,000 foot. Overwhelmed by his calamities, Jehoahaz at length acknowledged the authority of Jehovah over Israel, and humbled himself before him, in consideration of which a deliverer was raised up for Israel in the person of Jehoash, this king's son (B.C. 841, whence the latter's viceroyship is dated, 2 Kings 13:10), who was enabled to expel the Syrians and re-establish the affairs of the kingdom (2 Kings 13:1-9; 2 Kings 13:25). (See ISRAEL, KINGDOM OF).
3. The third of the four sons of Josiah by Hamutal, born B.C. 632, originally called SHALLUM, seventeenth separate king over Judah for three months only, B.C. 609 (Josephus Ι᾿ωάχαζος , Ant. 10, 5, 2). After his father had been slain in resisting the progress of Pharaoh-necho, Jehoahaz, who was then twenty-three years of age, was raised to the throne by the people in preference to his elder brother Jehoiakim (2 Kings 23:31; 2 Kings 23:36), and received at Jerusalem the regal anointing, which seems to have been usually omitted in times of order and of regular succession (the oldest brother, Johanan [1 Chronicles 3:15], having apparently died without issue, and Zedekiah being yet too young [2 Chronicles 26:11]). He found the land full of trouble, but free from idolatry. Instead, however, of following the excellent example of his father, Jehoahaz fell into the accustomed crimes of his predecessors, and, under the encouragements which his example or indifference offered, the idols soon reappeared. He is therefore described by his contemporaries as an evil-doer (2 Kings 23:32) and an oppressor (Ezekiel 19:3), and such is his traditional character in Josephus (Ant. 10:5, 2); but his deposition seems to have been lamented by the people (Jeremiah 22:10; Ezekiel 19:1). Pharaoh- necho, on his victorious return from the Euphrates, thinking it politic to reject a king not nominiated by himself, removed him from the throne, and set thereon his brother Jehoiakim. The deposed king was at first taken as a prisoner to Riblah, in Syria, but was eventually carried to Egypt, where he died (2 Kings 23:30-35; 2 Chronicles 36:1-4; 1 Chronicles 3:15; Jeremiah 22:10; Jeremiah 22:12). See Prideaux, Connection, an. 610; Ewald, Gesch. Isr. 3, 719; Rosenmü ller, Schol. in Jeremiah 22:11.
(See JUDAH, KINGDOM OF).