2 Kings 13:10 kjv
In the thirty and seventh year of Joash king of Judah began Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned sixteen years.
2 Kings 13:10 nkjv
In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned sixteen years.
2 Kings 13:10 niv
In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned sixteen years.
2 Kings 13:10 esv
In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned sixteen years.
2 Kings 13:10 nlt
Jehoash son of Jehoahaz began to rule over Israel in the thirty-seventh year of King Joash's reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria sixteen years.
2 Kings 13 10 Cross References
Verse | Text | Reference |
---|---|---|
2 Ki 10:30 | "The LORD said to Jehu, “Because you have done well... four generations of your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel.”" | Divine promise to Jehu's lineage. |
2 Ki 15:12 | "This was the promise of the LORD that he made to Jehu: “Your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.”" | Fulfillment of the dynastic promise. |
1 Ki 14:21 | "Now Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah... And he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem." | Example of a king's accession and reign length. |
1 Ki 12:28-30 | "Therefore the king took counsel and made two calves of gold... and the people went to worship before the one at Bethel and before the other at Dan. This thing became a sin." | Israel's foundational sin of idolatry. |
2 Ki 13:1-2 | "In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria... And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD..." | Immediate context, Jehoahaz's sinful reign. |
2 Ki 13:3 | "And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he gave them continually into the hand of Hazael king of Syria..." | God's judgment on Israel for their sin. |
Judg 2:16 | "Nevertheless, the LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them." | Pattern of sin, oppression, and deliverers. |
Lev 26:14-17 | "But if you will not listen to me and will not do all these commandments... I will set my face against you, and you shall be struck down before your enemies." | Covenant curses for disobedience. |
Deut 28:47-48 | "Because you did not serve the LORD your God... therefore you shall serve your enemies..." | Prophecy of foreign oppression due to disloyalty. |
1 Ki 16:24 | "He bought the hill Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver, and he built on the hill, and called the name of the city that he built Samaria..." | Origin of Samaria as Israel's capital. |
Hos 8:5-6 | "Your calf, O Samaria, is rejected... For from Israel comes this calf; a craftsman made it; it is not God." | Prophetic condemnation of Samaria's idolatry. |
Amos 3:9-10 | "Proclaim to the palaces in Ashdod and to the palaces in the land of Egypt: 'Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria, and see the great tumults within her...' " | Samaria's moral corruption highlighted. |
1 Sam 8:7 | "And the LORD said to Samuel, 'Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.'" | Israel's desire for a king (rejecting God's direct rule). |
Ps 78:67-71 | "He rejected the tent of Joseph; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, but he chose the tribe of Judah..." | God's ultimate choice of Judah/Jerusalem for kingship. |
Rom 15:4 | "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." | Purpose of Old Testament historical accounts. |
1 Cor 10:11 | "Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction..." | Spiritual lessons from Israel's history. |
Lk 21:24 | "They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." | Foretold judgment on Jerusalem mirroring earlier judgments. |
Rev 11:15 | "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever." | Contrast: earthly kingship vs. Christ's eternal reign. |
Zech 9:9 | "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you..." | Prophecy of Messiah as the true King of Israel. |
Heb 1:8 | "But of the Son he says, 'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.'" | Jesus' eternal kingship, transcending earthly reigns. |
2 Kings 13 verses
2 Kings 13 10 Meaning
This verse precisely dates the beginning of Jehoahaz's reign over the northern kingdom of Israel. It establishes a synchronism between the two divided kingdoms, stating that Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, became king in Samaria during the thirty-seventh year of Joash's reign over Judah. He then ruled for a total of seventeen years. It's a crucial chronological marker within the Book of Kings, reflecting the Bible's historical meticulousness.
2 Kings 13 10 Context
2 Kings 13 opens by reiterating the consistent spiritual rebellion of the northern kingdom of Israel, establishing the pattern of Jehoahaz doing "what was evil in the sight of the LORD" (v. 2) and following the idolatry of Jeroboam. As a consequence, the Lord delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria (v. 3). However, when Jehoahaz pleaded with the Lord, God sent a deliverer, bringing temporary relief (v. 4-5). This verse, 2 Kings 13:10, seems to disrupt the flow by repeating Jehoahaz's accession (already stated in v. 1) but serves a vital purpose. It provides a more specific synchronistic date with the Judean king Joash and confirms the total duration of Jehoahaz's reign. This chronological precision is typical of the Deuteronomistic history and underlines the structured historical record of both kingdoms, showing their intertwined yet distinct paths.
2 Kings 13 10 Word analysis
- And in the thirty and seventh year: This marks a precise chronological synchronism. It's a common biblical device to correlate events in Judah and Israel, vital for establishing a continuous timeline across the divided kingdoms. This specific dating demonstrates the meticulous record-keeping maintained by the chroniclers.
- of Joash king of Judah: Refers to Joash (also called Jehoash in other contexts, not to be confused with Jehoash king of Israel later in this chapter) who ruled Judah. His reign length (40 years, 2 Ki 12:1) provides the anchor for this Israelite date. The constant linkage between the two kingships underscores the belief in God's ongoing, though diverse, interaction with both Abrahamic descendants.
- began Jehoahaz: The Hebrew verb for "began" (הֵחֵל, ḥēl) signifies the commencement of his official reign. It signifies not just an individual taking a position, but the start of a new, identifiable period of rule. This is a formulaic opening for new reigns.
- the son of Jehu: This lineage is profoundly significant. Jehu was a king chosen by God and anointed by a prophet to fulfill divine judgment against the house of Ahab and the worship of Baal (2 Ki 9-10). The Lord promised Jehu that his descendants would reign to the fourth generation (2 Ki 10:30), a promise which this verse begins to track, as Jehoahaz is the first son.
- to reign over Israel: Indicates the Northern Kingdom. Unlike the unbroken Davidic dynasty in Judah, Israel's monarchy was frequently marked by instability and the overthrow of ruling houses, except for the house of Jehu due to divine promise. It signifies their continued existence as a separate political entity, albeit spiritually wayward.
- in Samaria: This was the capital city of the Northern Kingdom, established by Omri (1 Ki 16:24). It served as the administrative and economic center but also became a symbol of Israel's spiritual decline and persistent idolatry, specifically linked to the calf worship established by Jeroboam and further intensified by Ahab and Jezebel's Baalism.
- and reigned seventeen years: This provides the total duration of Jehoahaz's kingship. These reign lengths are crucial for biblical chronologists and reflect a divine oversight of history, even amidst the disobedience of the kings and their people. It implies a complete record for historical accuracy.
- "began Jehoahaz the son of Jehu to reign... and reigned seventeen years": This phrase is a standard regnal formula, yet its inclusion here (after already introducing Jehoahaz in 13:1-2) suggests an editor providing the full summary data, often placed after a reign's full description or as a cross-reference marker for synchronization. This double mention ensures clear chronological detail and establishes the boundary of Jehoahaz's time as king for the reader. The length of the reign itself, 17 years, sets the duration of the intense Aramaean oppression that defined his period, underscoring the severity of divine judgment on Israel for their sins, as narrated in verses 3-7 of the chapter.
2 Kings 13 10 Bonus section
The presence of 2 Kings 13:10 seemingly duplicating information from 2 Kings 13:1-2 (where Jehoahaz's accession is first stated as "In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah...") has led to significant scholarly discussion regarding biblical chronology. While verse 1 gives the accession in relation to Joash of Judah's initial years, verse 10 gives a different, later synchronism, suggesting a discrepancy or possibly the use of co-regencies or non-accession year dating conventions in one or both kingdoms. This might indicate that Jehoahaz's full reign, as counted in verse 10 (17 years), might include a co-regency with his father Jehu, or it might be reflecting the precise point in Joash of Judah's later reign when Jehoahaz's undisputed rule began for the chronologer. This detail, though seemingly minor, provides important data points for modern biblical historians attempting to align the chronologies of the divided monarchy with extra-biblical sources. It testifies to the complexity but ultimate consistency that emerges from careful analysis of these ancient records, reinforcing the Bible's historical commitment.
2 Kings 13 10 Commentary
2 Kings 13:10 is more than just a chronological detail; it's a profound statement on divine faithfulness amidst human apostasy. The verse precisely marks the start and duration of Jehoahaz's reign, the son of Jehu, within the synchronistic framework of Judah's king Joash. While the preceding verses establish Jehoahaz's wickedness and God's resultant judgment via Aramean oppression, this verse interjects the formal regnal summary. This precision highlights the biblical narrative's meticulous historical concern, assuring the reader of its factual grounding. Furthermore, it subtly underscores God's commitment to His word, particularly the promise to Jehu (2 Ki 10:30) that his descendants would sit on Israel's throne for four generations. Even when Israel, through kings like Jehoahaz, walked in blatant disobedience, bringing divine judgment upon themselves, the divine promise to the previous generation found its continuation. Thus, this verse encapsulates the themes of chronological accuracy, divine promise fulfillment, and the ongoing trajectory of the northern kingdom's spiritual and political struggles under divine judgment, leading toward their ultimate exile.