Meaning of JEHOAHAZ

"Jehovah possesses."
(a) Variation of the name of Ahaziah, the youngest of the sons of Joram king of Judah (2 Chron. 21:17; cf. 22:1). The constituent elements of the name have been transposed.

(b) Son and successor of Jehu on the throne of Israel. He began to reign in 817 BC, first associated with his father, and reigned 17 years (2 Kings 10:35; 13:1).

He perpetuated the cult of the golden calf established by Jeroboam. The Lord punished this apostasy by allowing the Syrians, first under Hazael and then under Ben-hadad, to defeat Jehoahaz.

In the end, Jehoahaz was limited to having a guard of fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers. In his distress, he called upon Jehovah, who delivered Israel, after the death of Jehoahaz however, through his two successors: Joash and Jeroboam II.

Joash returned to take the cities that the Syrians had taken from his father; Jeroboam II reestablished Israel's ancient borders.

There is no doubt that Joash had unexpected help. By attacking the Syrians from their rear, the king of Assyria forced them to abandon the kingdom of Israel and go to their own country to defend it.

(c) One of Josiah's younger sons; Upon the death of this king, the people of Judah enthroned Jehoahaz. Pharaoh Necho, upon returning from the battle against Josiah, passed through Jerusalem, deposing Jehoahaz, and putting Jehoiakim, his older brother, in his place; Jehoahaz was taken captive to Riblah, and then to Egypt, where he died (2 Kings 23:30-34; 2 Chron. 36:1-4).

(d) Father of Joah, who was Josiah's chancellor (2 Chron. 34:8).